After completing mandatory military service that kept them off the stage since 2022, all seven members of BTS performed together Saturday night at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, capping the release of their new album Arirang with a free, hour-long comeback concert streamed live on Netflix.
Tens of thousands of fans — many in purple, the colour associated with the group’s fanbase — filled the area around the square, which Seoul authorities had placed under heavy restrictions from early morning. A 1.2-kilometre zone between Gwanghwamun and City Hall was designated a controlled access area, with entry permitted only through 31 designated checkpoints. Nearby museums, cultural institutions and metro stations were closed for the event.
“It’s been a long journey but now we’re finally here,” RM, the group’s leader, said during the show. He performed much of the concert from a chair after his agency announced Friday that he had injured his ankle in rehearsals and would be restricted from choreography.
J-Hope acknowledged the uncertainty that had hung over the group’s return. “While preparing this album, we did have some concerns that we might be forgotten, or whether you would still remember us,” he said.
Released the day before the concert, Arirang sold 3.98 million copies in its first 24 hours, according to Big Hit Music. The album, named after a traditional Korean folk song long regarded as an unofficial national anthem, runs 14 tracks spanning rap, heavy production and genre experimentation. University professor Lee Ji-young, who attended the concert, described it as representing a step forward for the group. “Compared to their earlier work, there’s a wider range of genres, which gives it a more mature and expansive feel,” she said. “As always, their lyrics are honest, and through a diverse range of sounds, they give a clear sense of who they are and where they stand right now.”
Authorities and HYBE deployed a combined force of roughly 15,000 personnel for crowd management, a decision that drew criticism over reports that workers were required to take annual leave and that civil servants were called in on days off. Seoul officials have maintained elevated crowd-safety standards since a crush during Halloween celebrations in the Itaewon district in 2022 killed nearly 160 people.
Fan Carmen Low, 32, watching from Malaysia, said the group’s appeal goes beyond the music. “Their message has always centred around self-reflection, resilience and courage to keep moving forward, even when life feels uncertain,” she told AFP. “In many ways, those themes feel just as relevant — if not more — in 2026.”
The Gwanghwamun concert precedes an 82-show world tour billed by Big Hit as the largest in K-pop history, spanning 34 cities through March 2027. Analysts have projected total tour earnings of as much as 2.7 trillion won — roughly $1.8 billion — a figure that would rival the top-grossing tours in recent years. “The number of shows could reach 100 once dates to be added next year are included,” said Hwang Ji-won, analyst at iM Securities.
