BTS paints London purple as SOOM sales jump 1.5 times

London's 'SOOM Korean Restaurant' Bustles with a Wave of Purple

SOOM Korean Restaurant, a reservation-only Korean BBQ specialist in London, UK, was swarmed by fans dressed in purple. Linked to BTS's 'THE CITY' project, the scene of fans lining up with pop-up store shopping bags has become a daily occurrence. Fans who visited without reservations had to wait approximately 40 minutes before they could enter.

A staff member noted, "Since the start of THE CITY project, ARMY customers have been visiting continuously. Especially this past weekend, the number of customers increased significantly, causing sales to rise about 1.5 times compared to usual." The restaurant is so filled with the heat of the fans that when ingredients run out due to a surge in orders, staff must go out to buy more. One wall of the restaurant is densely covered with Post-it notes expressing affection for the members. The menu includes the 'Arirang Course' prepared specifically for this project, alongside various dishes such as braised chicken, *bibimbap*, cold noodles, and stews. Even international fans unfamiliar with Korean cuisine were seen enjoying the spicy flavors of *kimchi* stew.

"BTS is My Life"... Friendships Forged Through Music

For Carmela, a 58-year-old fan from Switzerland, BTS is more than just a musical group. They were her pillar of strength through difficult times, including battling cancer and the loss of her husband. Wearing a purple top and a pin shaped like Jung Kook's initials 'JK,' she said, "BTS is my life."

Because her husband lived in Busan for 12 years, Korea was not an unfamiliar country to her. Staying near Tottenham in London for this concert, Carmela visited the restaurant with friends she met online through BTS. Connected through the fandom, they have now become close friends who live near each other and keep in regular contact. As BTS's music played inside the restaurant, fans shared the lingering emotions of the concert by taking commemorative photos against a backdrop of mother-of-pearl decorations.

'Arirang' Stage Captivates 60,000 Spectators, Ranking No. 1 in Global Metrics

BTS's world tour 'Arirang,' held on the 6th and 7th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, was a massive success, drawing 60,000 spectators. This London performance marks their return to the city approximately seven years after their 2019 Wembley show.

The impact of this stage was proven through various metrics. According to K-POPIT BOARD analysis, they ranked No. 1 on both domestic and international charts with a Global Comprehensive Power Index (PWR_GL) of 67 points, and a domestic Comprehensive Power Index (PWR_KR) of 73 points. The 'FHI' (Fandom Health Index), which indicates the health of the fandom, recorded 88 points. In particular, a video of member V kneeling at a fan's request showed high viral metrics, recording approximately 610,000 views on X (formerly Twitter) in just one day. The British media outlet The Guardian awarded the performance five stars, commenting, "It was filled with pure joy and incredible versatility."