BTS’s Jungkook to headline 2023 Global Citizen Festival in New York

Jungkook of boy band BTS will headline the 2023 Global Citizen Festival set to take place on Sept. 23 at New York’s Central Park, becoming the first Korean solo musician to do so.

The Global Citizen Festival is an international non-profit organization dedicated to combatting imminent issues such as poverty, famine and climate change by raising people’s awareness on the subject through various cultural events.

The festival has been held as a part of that effort since 2012, and BTS took part in the 2021 edition to perform their hits “Permission to Dance” (2021) and “Butter” (2021) in front of Korea’s National Treasure No. 1, the Sungnyemun gate in central Seoul.

This year, Jungkook will be performing alongside some of the biggest names in the pop world, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lauryn Noelle Hill, Anitta, Conan Gray, D-Nice and Sofia Carson. K-pop boy band Stray Kids will also be performing at the festival.

“I am so excited to be headlining the Global Citizen Festival this year,” Jungkook said in a press release. “I am so happy to be a part of a meaningful festival. I can’t wait to perform in front of everyone.”

Jungkook has been nominated for the Song of the Summer award at the upcoming 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) for his latest solo single, “Seven,” set to take place on Tuesday. He was also nominated last year for his collaboration with Charlie Puth in “Left and Right” (2022).

“Seven” currently sits at No. 28 on the Billboard 100 singles chart this week, up four slots compared to the week prior. It is the single’s seventh consecutive week.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]