BTS officially kicked off the BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' on April 9 at Goyang Stadium, launching a mαѕѕive global trek spanning 34 cities across North αмєяι¢α, Europe, South αмєяι¢α, and Asia. The overwhelming demand for the tour saw every show sell out almost instantly during the presale period. Originally announced as a 79-show run, the tour has since been expanded with additional dates in multiple cities due to relentless demand, bringing the total number of concerts to 88.
As BTS's first official concert tour since completing their mandatory military service—and their first world tour in more than four years—it's no surprise that fans around the globe have been eagerly anticipating the group's return to the stage. At the same time, many fans have been especially excited about the possibility of hearing older songs performed again, particularly because the tour features a nightly "surprise song" segment, during which BTS randomly performs at least two songs from their extensive catalog.
A number of fan-favorite tracks have already made their long-awaited return to the stage, including "Mikrokosmos," "I Need U," "Pied Piper," "Magic Shop," "Just One Day," "Spring Day"... However, what has caught the attention of many fans is the apparent absence of two legendary BTS songs—"HOME" and "Love Maze"—which some now believe may never be performed during this tour, or possibly ever again!
Several South кσяєαn media outlets have reported that BTS is unlikely to perform "HOME" and "Love Maze" due to ethical concerns. According to those reports, composer Bobby Jung, who participated in the production of both songs as well as numerous нιт tracks for BTS and TXT, faced criminal ѕєχual misconduct allegations on two separate occasions in 2020 and 2021.
In 2022, he was convicted of illegally filming a woman in a state of nudity without her consent. The court sentenced him to one year in prison, ordered him to complete 40 hours of ѕєχual νισℓєи¢є prevention education, and prohibited him from working at facilities serving children or individuals with disabilities for five years.
From a legal standpoint, the songs remain the lawful property of BTS and HYBE, and they retain the legal right to use them because Bobby Jung contributed to their creations before the criminal offense occurred. His conviction does not automatically invalidate the songs or result in the revocation of their copyrights. In practice, however, artists and production companies may choose to limit the use of certain works in order to protect their public image and avoid controversy.
Notably, BigHit Music and BTS previously removed "Love Maze" and "HOME" from the U.S. DVD release of BTS – PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE following Bobby Jung's legal case. Reports also suggested that songs such as "Love Myself," "I'm Fine," "Filter," "Dream Glow," and "134340" were reviewed internally by the company. These actions indicate that both the agency and the artists were aware of the issue and took steps to minimize any αѕѕociation with the convicted individual. As a result, many fans now believe that the chances of "HOME" and "Love Maze" returning to future concert setlists are increasingly slim.
Following the reports, ARMYs expressed their disappointment. While the vast majority of fans agree that Bobby Jung should be held accountable for his actions, many also lament that BTS, the other producers involved, and two beloved songs have seemingly suffered lasting consequences because of one individual's crimes. Fans commented:
- Multiple beloved songs were taken off of the PTD DVD and now ARIRANG tour because of an awful man on the songwriting credits
- That makes me want to cry. It’s one of my favorite songs—please don’t
- That’s нєαятвяєαкιиg. I love Home and Love Maze so much. It's been 4 years, please, bring it back
- Saying things like ‘What about the members’ feelings?’ or ‘What about our feelings?’ is fine if you want to express how you feel, but the fact is that a ѕєχual offender used money to win a lawsuit, and the victim ended up taking their own life. The group has made its decision, if you’re truly a fan, just accept it
- Of course ARMYs are affected, but above all, BTS are the ones who are truly saddened by this. And we need to respect BTS's decision
- I adore this song so much. Is there really nothing that can be done? I feel so bad for the members
- This must have been a difficult decision. I really miss the melody of Love Maze. But ethics are soмєтнing that must be upheld, and I’m proud of BTS for making this choice
- I understand the reasons, but it still hurts so much. Love Maze has always been one of the songs closest to my heart
- It must have been an incredibly difficult choice, but I’m proud of BigHit and BTS for prioritizing ethics over everything else
- This song carried so many memories for fandom. Knowing we may never hear it live again is honestly нєαятвяєαкιиg
- I respect the decision, but I can’t deny how painful it is to let go of such a meaningful song
