After a hiatus of four years, the renowned K-pop group BTS made a grand comeback on Saturday with a massive free concert in Seoul. The event, exclusively available on Netflix, attracted a large crowd of fans, with thousands of police securing the central boulevard for the performance.
RM, the group’s leader, greeted the audience with “Annyeonghaseyo” (hello in Korean) as BTS kicked off the concert with their song “Body to Body,” eliciting ecstatic cheers from fans waving purple-and-red light sticks and capturing the moment on their smartphones. The seven members of the band, including RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, recently completed their mandatory military service in South Korea and are now aiming to reclaim their position as one of the leading pop acts globally.
The concert at Gwanghwamun Square marked the beginning of a worldwide tour that will span multiple shows in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Analysts predict that the tour could generate significant revenue, potentially reaching hundreds of millions of dollars per quarter.
Despite RM sustaining an ankle injury during rehearsal, the group delivered a remarkable performance following the release of their fifth album, “ARIRANG,” which sold close to four million copies on the first day. The concert, which commenced at 8 p.m. local time, attracted tens of thousands of spectators to the Gwanghwamun area, with 22,000 fans securing complimentary seats in the designated viewing zone while others watched on nearby screens.
Describing the event as a once-in-a-century experience, fans eagerly awaited BTS’s return, emphasizing the group’s absence. BTS, formed in 2013, enjoys a significant global following known as the “Army.” Their success was evident when they became the first K-pop act to top Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 2020 with their English track “Dynamite.”
The impact of BTS’s reunion as a full group is expected to be substantial, particularly at a time when the global popularity of K-pop is on the rise, as demonstrated by the success of Netflix’s animated series “KPop Demon Hunters.”
During the concert, BTS performed songs from their latest album, including “SWIM,” along with fan favorites like “Dynamite” and “Butter.” The emotional display culminated with members expressing gratitude to fans for enduring the cold night, culminating in a heartfelt bow to conclude the show.
Stringent crowd controls were in place, with police managing the vast crowds under heavy security measures. Nearby streets were closed, public transportation services were halted, and buildings surrounding the area were sealed off, resulting in a district-wide shutdown for the day.
Thousands of police officers created a tight perimeter around the venue, guiding attendees through security checks and metal detectors at entry points. The stringent security measures led to the closure of nearby establishments and the use of police buses to transport wedding guests to an alternate venue.
Despite the necessary safety precautions, some critics argued that the extensive crowd controls overshadowed the significance of holding the event in Gwanghwamun, a revered location in Seoul.
The latest BTS album, “ARIRANG,” draws inspiration from a traditional folk song that holds historical and cultural significance in both Koreas. The decision to perform in Gwanghwamun, with its ties to Korean heritage, underscored the group’s focus on identity and authenticity in their music.
Suga shared that the album’s title and the choice of venue reflected BTS’s commitment to showcasing their true selves and coming together as a group. RM echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of portraying their identity through their music to the audience.