BTS Sparks Korean Culture Craze Across London with Epic Fan Fest

In July 2026, the world-famous K-pop group BTS performed at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, drawing thousands of fans from around the globe. The excitement was not just about the concerts. London became the first European city to host 'BTS The City Arirang,' a special program that included exhibitions, pop-up stores, restaurant collaborations, and cultural events. This program was named after BTS's latest album and was designed to make the concert experience even more memorable. Hybe, the company behind BTS, explained that they wanted to turn cities into cultural stages, connecting people through BTS's music and stories.

All over London, Korean cafes, restaurants, and cultural groups spent weeks getting ready for the arrival of BTS fans. At Tokkia, a Korean matcha cafe in Covent Garden, people lined up before the doors even opened. The owner, Sooji Im, created a special Arirang matcha drink and dessert just for the event. She said she had never seen Korean culture celebrated so much in London in the nearly 20 years she has lived there. When she first moved to London, not many people knew about Korea. Now, she is happy to see so many people enjoying Korean food and even speaking Korean.

Fans from many countries traveled to London for the BTS events. Camilla and Helene, two fans from Norway, said they felt connected to other fans through the music. They explained that it was easy to talk to other fans, even if they had never met before. Camilla, who organizes K-pop dance activities in Norway, said that some younger fans come just to talk and find others who like K-pop. Viviana and Nhan, two friends from the United States, decided to turn the concerts into a longer holiday. They wanted to explore London and join other BTS events. They said it was fun to meet other fans and do activities together. Korean businesses in London saw a big increase in customers. Jaeil Choi, who runs a restaurant in Chinatown, said the number of customers almost doubled during the BTS program. He was most touched by seeing people greet each other in Korean, sing along to Korean songs, and share gifts. He said it reminded him of 'jeong,' a Korean word for warmth and connection between people. Seeing people of all ages enjoying Korean culture in London made him feel very proud.