Attention is focusing on the performance of BTS in Pyongyang, North Korea.
Ahn Min-seok, the lawmaker of Democratic Party of Korea and chairman of the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, told on Thursday that he plans to push for a concert with BTS at the May 1 stadium in Pyongyang in September to mark the first anniversary of the Pyongyang Joint Declaration.
Lawmaker Ahn Min-seok has been mentioning the BTS’s push to perform in Pyongyang since last year. “I thought we need to make efforts to reunify the nation mentally and culturally before being political,” said the KBS Classic FM in November last year. “We intend to push BTS to perform in Pyongyang next year more than anything else.”
In addition, Lawmaker Ahn Min-seok said, “If the troupe goes to Pyongyang, the accommodation is a problem,” and added, “We are considering setting up a tent near the Daedong River as an idea.”
South and North Korea have been continuing cultural exchanges. During the Pyeongchang Olympics in February last year, a performance of the Samjiyon Orchestra from North Korea was held at Gangneung Art Center in Gangwon Province and at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul. In April, a group of South Korean artists, including Cho Yong-pil, Lee Sun-hee, Red Velvet and YB, visited Pyongyang and performed a concert tour. Also, in September of the same year, singers Zico, Ali and composer Kim Hyung-seok visited North Korea.
BTS is the first K-pop star to become a global pop star, as it topped the Billboard 200 list for the first time in Korea. In addition, it ranked 59th in the Billboard 200 chart announced on Wednesday, showing continued popularity by succeeding in the chart for 19 consecutive weeks.
As this is a sensitive issue including inter-Korean relations, attention is focusing on whether BTS’ Pyongyang concert will be held.
