UNIVERSITAS LAMBUNG MANGKURAT

FAKULTAS KEGURUAN DAN ILMU PENDIDIKAN

TASK FORMAT: WEEKLY READING ASSIGNMENTS

SUBJECT: INTENSIVE READING AND WRITING (A4)

LECTURER: DINI NOOR ARINI, S.PD., M.PD.

SEMESTER: II (TWO)

STUDENT NAME: NATASYA PERMATA PUTERI

NIM: 2110117320020

1. TASK GOAL

To improve students' ability to read articles in English and be able to make conclusions
and comment on the articles.

2. DESCRIPTION

Looking for articles from "Jakarta Post", give conclusions and comments based on the
article, submit it at e-learning, simari.

*Note: Different article for 1 person.

 ARTICLE:
K-POP’S BTS ON STAGE FOR FIRST SEOUL GIG SINCE PANDEMIC
Sunghee Hwang (Agence France-Presse)

Date: Seoul, South Korea / Friday, March 11th, 2022

South Korean supergroup BTS on Thursday returned to the stage in Seoul for the first time
since 2019, with an adoring home-grown crowd offering only applause as COVID-19 rules
barred all screaming, chanting or singing.
The show is the first of three concerts for the chart-topping septet titled Permission to Dance
on Stage - Seoul at the capital's Olympic Stadium.
Since BTS' last performance for domestic fans in 2019, the band have gone from strength to
strength despite the pandemic, with three Billboard-topping singles and two Grammy
nominations.
Fans waved purple LED wands — the official color of BTS fandom — in sync when the
band appeared on stage, with rhythmic clapping filling the 60,000-capacity stadium, which
was only a quarter full due to social distancing measures.
Band leader RM, whose real name is Kim Nam-joon, said they were thrilled to be performing
in front of a live audience again.
"The fact that you are all seated in the stands shows a lot has changed," he said, referring to a
livestream-only concert they performed to empty seats a few months ago.
"When would we get a concert where we get this much clapping? This is a concert to be
remembered in history."
Bandmate Kim Tae-hyung, stage name V, added: "I'm so touched and thrilled that our
ARMY are here."
Tickets for the three concerts — 45,000 in all — sold out within minutes, despite stringent
social-distancing requirements for the BTS fans, known as ARMY.
Chanting, singing, screaming or even standing up were all banned, as South Korea battles an
Omicron spike, with more than 300,000 cases reported Thursday.
But fans including Heo Min-hee, a 25-year-old office worker, said being at the concert was a
"dream" despite the restrictions.
"I still can't believe that this is my seat whenever I look at my ticket," Heo told AFP before
the concert.
Han Aeng-hee, a 53-year-old fan from Gyeonggi province, added: "I prayed every morning to
secure a ticket and miraculously, I got tickets to the first and last concerts."
"I'm very grateful," she said.
'Necessary change'
Ahead of the gig, the BTS members expressed concern over the rules but asked for fans'
understanding.
"There is a certain energy that can be felt from a person's voice, and I wonder if clapping can
be enough," said J-Hope, whose real name is Jung Ho-seok.
Fans were disappointed about the rules but acknowledged the changes were inevitable.
"Even though it's hard, I think it's a necessary change under the current circumstances," said
Lee Chae-rim, a 28-year-old student.
"At least we can see them," added Darina, a 24-year-old student from Russia who lives in
South Korea. "We can sing in our hearts."
A handful of social media posts showed some fans were trying to sell their hard-won tickets
after testing positive for the virus.
Many concert-goers said they had taken extra precautions, some even placing themselves in
self-quarantine after securing a ticket so as not to test positive and risk missing the big event.
"I didn't go outside so I wouldn't catch COVID-19," said Choi Jung-yoon, 16, who stayed
home for around a week.
Her friend Jung Da-yeon added: "I wore double masks when I had to go to crowded places."
Livestreams
The floppy-haired musicians, all in their 20s and often sporting earrings and lipstick, appeal
to a generation comfortable with gender fluidity.
They are credited with generating billions for the South Korean economy, and their label
enjoyed a surge in profits despite holding fewer concerts during the pandemic.
In 2020, BTS were forced to call off what was supposed to be their largest international tour,
with almost 40 gigs, though they held some concerts online.
The group's first in-person show since the pandemic began was at SoFi Stadium in Los
Angeles, the United States, in November, with the four-night run grossing $33.3 million,
according to Billboard.
The first and last shows of Permission to Dance will be streamed live online, while Saturday's
concert can be watched in real-time at movie theaters around the world.

Conclusion/Summary:
The conclusion that I can draw based on the article above is that the supergroup band from
South Korea, BTS held an offline concert, Permission to Dance on Stage - Seoul in the
capital city of the Olympic stadium for the first time since 2019. Because in 2020, their entire
tour was canceled due to Covid-19 and instead, they held an online concert that year.
Although there is a regulation that requires the audience or BTS fans (called ARMY) not to
shout and sing along and are only allowed to clap during the concert due to the covid-19
regulations in the country, South Korea. Even so, both BTS and ARMY are still enthusiastic
about performing and watching concerts.
My comments on the article above:
The comment I want to give to the article above is that this article tells us unique information
about BTS' concert at Permission to Dance on Stage in Seoul. Why? Because the audience is
not allowed to shout and sing during the concert. Due to the Covid-19 regulations by the
South Korean government. But this did not reduce the excitement of ARMY and BTS at this
concert event. ARMY (BTS fans) ranging from young people to adults are still enthusiastic to
watch BTS concerts.