There is no "fake love" between Son Heung-min and BTS.
On Tuesday, Sept. 8, LAFC posted a photo on Instagram of their star winger, who is also the South Korea national team captain, with the entire group from when Heung-min attended the second night of BTS' Arirang World Tourstops in Los Angeles the week prior. It is a rarity that all seven members take a photo with their celebrity guests. T
he MLS side also posted a gallery of videos from when Heung-min appeared on the video board at the performance and held up his signature photo frame celebration, and from the fourth and final show on Sunday, Sept. 6. of Suga wearing a No. 7 LAFC jersey draped from his pocket. The number is Heung-min's jersey number and the digit holds special meaning for the pop
culture sensations.
"ICONIC," the caption for the group photo said.
Other members of the group have worn various sports jerseys throughout the Arirang tour. At the other Los Angeles stops, Jin and J-Hope wore Los Angeles Rams jerseys and, for a separate show, J-Hope wore a Los Angeles Dodgers jersey.RM donned a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey for a performance in The 6.
"Arirang," which is also the name of the group's new album, celebrates BTS' Korean heritage. The title references a traditional Korean folk song that is featured on "Body to Body." The project also includes a song called "No. 29," which is the toll of a bell that is recognized as a national treasure. The album and tour signify a reunion after all seven members of the group served their mandatory military service.
Heung-min is friends with BTS member V and spent his birthday in 2025 with him. He has been a longtime fan of the group and once called them "national heroes."
"I think it's incredible. What they do for Korean people makes really proud and really happy," he said in a 2021 interview with media personality Chunkz on the "Pavement to Pitch" podcast. "I'm grateful that they're here. They made South Korea big and I'm so grateful. I'm a big fan of them and I hope they keep doing well."
When he was at Tottenham, the Premier League club did a promotional video with BTS in which each member was given a jersey with his No. 7 on it.
"Of course, he's already doing a fantastic job, but we wish that you continue to thrive as the world-class player," RM said in Korean.
This summer, South Korea failed to advance out of the group stage in the World Cup. Heung-min did not score in the three matches.
He bounced back with LAFC when the MLS season ensued after the tournament, scoring twice in his first MLS All-Star Game.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Iconic': LAFC and Son Heung-Min show love to BTS for Arirang tour
