BTS reunites for a massive Seoul concert after military service, launching a new album and a sold-out world tour spanning 34 cities
SEOUL: BTS reunites on stage this Saturday for their first concert since 2022, marking a full comeback after all seven members completed compulsory military service.
The open-air show in downtown Seoul is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans in person and millions more via a global Netflix livestream.
The concert follows the release of their fifth studio album, “ARIRANG,” with leader RM stating in a trailer, “We promised our fans we’d be back.”
Local media reports the event will begin inside the historic Gyeongbokgung Palace before the group moves to a main stage near Gwanghwamun Square.
Pop culture columnist Kim Do-hoon told AFP the palace is “the most symbolic place in the country” for the “most symbolic K-pop group.”
Authorities are deploying massive security, including 6,700 police officers, following the 2022 Halloween crowd crush tragedy in Seoul.
The prime minister’s office cited the “volatile international situation” and the possibility of terrorist threats at large-scale events.
The concert kicks off the ARIRANG World Tour, beginning in South Korea on April 9 and spanning 82 concerts in 34 cities worldwide.
Tickets for shows in South Korea, North America, and Europe sold out within hours of release.
The group’s return is also a major economic event, with hotels booked out and fans flying in from abroad.
Business professor Kim Dae-jong said the comeback “will contribute to an economic boom” benefiting local businesses and elevating the national image.
The success of the new “ARIRANG” album is seen as critical for the future of both BTS and the wider K-pop industry.
