Lea Salonga attends BTS’ ‘Arirang’ concert in Busan, credits them for her mental health boost

Lea Salonga flies to Busan for the BTS concert, shares how the group helped her through lockdown and why seeing V was worth it.

Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga flew to South Korea to witness the kickoff of South Korean boy band BTS’ highly anticipated “Arirang” world concert tour in Busan last Friday, June 12.

In an Instagram story the following day, the theater icon uploaded a snapshot of herself beaming next to a fan banner dedicated to her bias, or favorite member, V.

Though the massive crowd and concert environment left her physically drained, she emphasized that the milestone event, which coincided with the group’s 13th debut anniversary weekend, known by ARMYs or BTS’s fandom as “FESTA,” was completely rewarding.

“Feet hurt, legs are rubbery, but, boy, what a day! Seeing BTS in Busan was worth it!” she captioned her post.

The international trip served as a full-circle moment for the singer. During a recent guest appearance on the podcast, “What a Life,” Salonga detailed how the seven-member boy band became her anchor amid the strict 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns.

She recalled stumbling upon the music video for “Dynamite” in August of that year, admitting that V’s appearance instantly captivated her. From there, she continuously consumed their extensive catalog of live performances and shows, which she credited for rescuing her from a depressive mental state caused by pandemic isolation.

Beyond their undeniable stage presence, Salonga voiced her deep admiration for the boys’ overall musicianship and character.

“There is something very genuine… something sincere and real, and it seems that these guys have such integrity,” she noted during the interview. “They had me in a chokehold and, still here!”