BTS's Jimin Shows "Taegukgi Fashion" on a US Stage for Liberation Day — Historical Meaning Conveyed through the Geon-Gon-Gam-Ri
BTS's Jimin conveyed historical meaning through an outfit inspired by the Taegukgi (the Korean national flag) on a US concert stage for Liberation Day. Commemorating Liberation Day with styling evoking the Taegukgi on a US stage far from Korea, he drew the interest of fans at home and abroad. Stage Attire Bearing the Geon-Gon-Gam-Ri On the 15th (local time), Jimin took the stage at the BTS world tour "ARIRANG" concert held in Arlington, Texas, USA. That day, Jimin showed a hairstyle accented with red and blue hairpieces, and wore a top with a design rendering the Taegukgi's trigrams—the "Geon-Gon-Gam-Ri" (the four trigrams on the flag)—in beadwork. As the day of the concert was Liberation Day, Jimin's styling drew even more attention. After the show, a staff member also posted Jimin's photo along with a Taegukgi emoji on social media, revealing that it was a design commemorating Liberation Day and adding to its meaning. On that stage, elements evoking the Taegukgi could be found not only in Jimin's attire but in that of other members as well. Reflecting on the Meaning of Liberation Day That day was Liberation Day, commemorating Korea's freedom from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. Jimin reflected on the meaning of Liberation Day with red and blue hairpieces evoking the Taegukgi and an outfit with the Geon-Gon-Gam-Ri pattern. Last year, on the 80th anniversary of Liberation, Jimin also drew fans' attention by wearing a cap with a Taegukgi patch in the US. In that a world star didn't forget where he came from and revealed that identity in the most natural way, this styling carried a special meaning. Warmth Shown Off Stage At the concert, another side of Jimin was also captured. During the show, he gave a young fan a keyring and gently patted their head. When this news spread, fans left various responses to Jimin's warm consideration, sharing how moved they were. Since the Arlington concert, Jimin has been named one of the most-mentioned BTS members in the US, once again showing his presence there. The "ARIRANG" World Tour in Progress BTS, the group Jimin belongs to, reunited as a full group this past March and released their fifth studio album "ARIRANG." Starting in Goyang this past April, the group has been continuing the "BTS World Tour 'ARIRANG.'" As BTS's performances—grounded in the Korean language, music, and sensibility—continue on stages around the world, the cultural expressions of Jimin and the other members are also expected to draw international interest. Jimin, embracing the colors and patterns of the Taegukgi on a US stage on Liberation Day, remains a moment that naturally showed Korea's history and identity on a world stage.
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