Tens of thousands of fans filled a rain-swept stadium in South Korea on Thursday to watch BTS kick off their world tour, as the K-pop megastars ride the momentum of a chart-topping comeback album and a landmark performance in the heart of Seoul.

The seven-member group – widely regarded as the world's biggest boy band – took to the stage together for the first time last month following a years-long hiatus prompted by mandatory military service, and after releasing their latest studio album "ARIRANG".

Thursday's spectacular concert in Goyang, about 16km from the capital Seoul, marked the start of a tour that will span 85 shows in 34 cities worldwide.

Abbas Manahil, 27, a physical therapist from Pakistan, said she had worried that the stars might slip due to the heavy rain, but said they handled it well.

"It was my first time seeing them so close," she said, recalling the moment she broke into tears. "That made my day."

The concert-goers – many dressed in purple themselves – reflected the group's global reach, with English, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese heard while they queued outside the venue.

Despite the weather, many fans without seats remained outside the stadium after the show began, listening intently to the muffled music.

The tour is set to be a major money-spinner for BTS, potentially outdoing Taylor Swift's recent Eras Tour, according to analysts.

BTS will travel to cities including Tokyo, Manila, Toronto and Buenos Aires as part of the highest number of shows for a single tour by any South Korean artist, according to their label. (AFP)



Edited by Azam Khan