What in the World - Are BTS still the K-pop kings?

Download Are BTS still the K-pop kings?

K-pop megastars BTS have announced their long-awaited comeback, after their military service for the South Korean army took them out of the game for four years.

There’s gonna be a new album, a world tour AND an extravagant 360 degree stage, meaning tickets sales can be maxed out, allowing more fans into stadiums. Experts think it will all net the band over $1 billion.

We hear from the BTS Army about how excited they are.

But four years is a long time in K-pop, so how can BTS hold onto their crowns? BBC reporter Rachel Lee in Seoul joins us to explain why the band is so important to the South Korean music industry and how they can continue to dominate it.

Latin America, Europe and the US are some of the places where dates have been announced but the ‘world tour’ has skipped over the continent of Africa again. More dates are due to be announced, but how are fans feeling there?

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Presenter: Iqra Farooq
Producers: Emily Horler and Emilia Jansson
Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Published on Friday, 16th January 2026.

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