The successful South Korean group BTS is celebrating its live comeback in Germany after several years away: this Saturday and tomorrow Sunday, the seven members will play two shows at the sold-out Allianz Arena in Munich. These are the only concerts in Germany during their extensive world tour, which includes a total of almost 90 performances on several continents – from Australia to Chile.
The rush for tickets is also huge as BTS makes their first public appearance again after a hiatus of nearly four years. Since the end of 2022, RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook have consecutively completed their mandatory military service in South Korea. At the end of March, the group finally announced their comeback with the album “Arirang”, named after the most famous Korean folk song.
Since their debut in 2013, BTS have come a long way, from former South Korean insider to arguably the most successful pop group at the moment. The group is also one of the few musical groups that has managed to at least partially break through the long-standing, almost unchallenged cultural dominance of Western pop music. Enough reasons to take a look at this hype.
What makes BTS so successful?
Although the group has benefited from the previously assured success of the so-called Korean wave (“Hallyu”), BTS stands out in the K-pop universe due to several features: the members are not only actively involved in many of their musical projects, but also write their own songs. In terms of content, they also touch on many universal themes that most bands have previously avoided: mental health, social pressure to perform, self-acceptance and doubt.
BTS’s exceptionally close relationship with its fans, who call themselves the “Army”, also plays a crucial role. Since the beginning of their group’s history, BTS has used social media to build a loyal following around the world.
BTS has broken a number of records in recent years, with their hit single “Dynamite,” released in 2020, receiving more than 100 million views in 24 hours on YouTube alone. BTS is also the first K-pop group to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Seven of their singles have already reached number one, most recently the summer song “Swim” from their current album “Arirang”.
How global is K-Pop now in world pop culture?
In their business strategy, many K-pop labels primarily target international markets outside their national borders. It has long been clear that the efforts are now bearing fruit.
Initially, the K-Pop phenomenon was particularly popular among Asian youth, especially in China and Southeast Asia. The popularity is now huge on almost all continents, for example in Latin America and large parts of Europe.
The most prominent example in the industry is undoubtedly BTS. At the American Music Awards (AMA) held in Las Vegas in May, the boy band won both Artist of the Year and Best Summer Song (for their hit “Swim”).
A relatively modern trend is that South Korean artists are increasingly penetrating other cultural spheres. K-pop stars can regularly be seen on the runway at fashion shows in Paris. They are also increasingly being featured in television series and films.
Singer Lisa from the girl group Blackpink, for example, made her debut in the successful HBO series White Lotus in 2025. The 29-year-old is proof that K-pop stars don’t have to be exclusively South Korean: Lalisa Manobal, her real name, was born in Buri Ram, Thailand.
To what extent has the South Korean government contributed to the success of the K-pop industry?
For about 30 years, the South Korean state has been actively working to promote local pop culture as an export product. In the late 1990s, the East Asian tiger state was hit by the so-called Asian crisis, after which the government specifically looked for new economic engines.
In subsequent years, he supported the growing K-pop industry, for example through label funding programs or assistance with international marketing. But creative energy comes not from the authorities, but from private music labels and individual artistic talents.
What are the dark sides of K-Pop?
Despite its considerable success, the South Korean entertainment industry is also regularly criticized. Many young singers complain about the enormous pressure of performing in the K-pop industry, and contracts with music labels are also a constant problem. Many K-pop artists take years of rigorous training in singing and dancing before they see the light of day.
At the same time, South Korean stars are under enormous pressure to keep their personal lives scandal-free. Several artist suicides, such as those following online harassment and shit storms, have sparked public debate about how the South Korean pop industry can better protect the mental health of its stars.