Chicago: The U.S. state of Illinois has designated the dates of K-pop supergroup BTS' upcoming Chicago concerts as "BTS Day in Illinois," the group's agency announced Monday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker proclaimed August 27 and 28 as "BTS Day in Illinois," aligning with the band's performances at Soldier Field in Chicago on its "Arirang" world tour. Governor Pritzker emphasized that BTS has transcended international borders and uses its platform to support social causes such as mental health awareness, self-love, and global philanthropy.

The official proclamation highlighted that BTS' core messaging aligns with Illinois' civic values, inspiring the BTS ARMY worldwide to engage in community service and charitable giving. The governor also encouraged residents to embrace the unifying values of music, culture, and community advocacy.

BTS first made history in May 2019 as the first K-pop act to hold a standalone concert at Soldier Field during its "Love Yourself: Speak Yourself" world tour. The upcoming shows will mark the band's return to the venue after more than seven years.

Other North American cities have also organized events in honor of BTS' tour. Toronto designated the weekend of the concerts as "BTS Weekend" and temporarily renamed part of a road "BTS Boulevard." In Maryland, Governor Wes Moore released a video with Korean subtitles to welcome the group ahead of its Baltimore concert, while El Paso County in Texas declared the concert period "El Paso BTS Weekend" and awarded the members the "Estimado Amigo" (Dear Friend) award.