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BTS fans in Taiwan are visiting a centuries-old Taoist temple in Taipei and praying to the god of love, hoping divine intervention will help them secure tickets to the K-pop group’s upcoming concerts in the southern city of Kaohsiung.
What happened at the temple
On Saturday, a group of K-pop fans, mostly BTS fans, laid out snacks in purple packaging, the official BTS group colour, along with group merchandise, concert seat maps, and wish lists on an altar table. They prayed to the deity under harsh sunshine at Taipei’s Bangka Longshan Temple.
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The deity they prayed to is Yue Lao, the Taoist god of love and marriage. Fans believe he can use the power of divine matchmaking to connect them with seats at the concerts.
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One fan described her offering in detail to Reuters, saying she planned to bring instant noodles endorsed by BTS members and a popular Taiwanese corn puff snack called Kuai Kuai, often used as a good luck charm, along with pudding. She also noted that handwriting her wish was more sincere than typing it.
The trend of praying at the temple for concert tickets started on social media a couple of years ago. Taiwanese K-pop fans believe Yue Lao will use his red thread of fate to connect those destined to meet, in this case, connecting fans with a concert seat.
What fans are saying
“It’s really hard to get tickets for BTS concerts, so everyone says praying to the God of Love is the most efficient. After all, it’s another kind of matchmaking,” said a fan.
“If you truly believe in it, your wish will come true,” said another.
Fans have also shared stories of past success, claiming that after praying at the temple, “no ticket is beyond securing.”
The temple’s response
Lin Pei-huo, the temple’s chairman, welcomes the visiting fans. He suggests they provide detailed information about their idols during prayers, which he believes could help fulfill their wishes.
Bangka Longshan Temple is one of Taiwan’s most prominent religious sites. It is located in the Wanhua district of Taipei and has a history going back over 270 years.
Why tickets are so hard to get
The Kaohsiung concerts are part of BTS’s ARIRANG World Tour, marking the group’s long-awaited return after a four-year hiatus during which the members completed their mandatory military service.
The tour will feature songs from their new 14-track album, ARIRANG, including “Body to Body,” “Hooligan,” “Fya,” “2.0,” “Swim”.
They will also play their iconic hits such as “Dynamite,” “Butter,” “Fake Love.”
The last time BTS performed with all their members in Taiwan was in 2018. That gap of nearly eight years has driven intense demand among Taiwanese fans.
The overall ARIRANG World Tour spans 34 cities and 79 shows, making it the largest single-tour run by a K-pop act to date. Every show will feature a 360-degree, in-the-round stage, the first time a K-pop stadium tour has gone fully circular.
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