South Korea’s K-pop phenomenon BTS made a triumphant return to the stage in Seoul on Saturday evening, drawing tens of thousands of fans to a free comeback concert after nearly four years away from performing.
The hiatus was driven by South Korea’s conscription law, which requires able-bodied men to serve nearly two years in the military. The first of BTS’s seven members began service in 2022 and the last completed duty in June 2025.
Against the colorful backdrop of Gwanghwamun Gate and Gyeongbokgung Palace, lead vocalist RM greeted the crowd: “Hi Seoul! We’re back!” J-Hope thanked fans for waiting and promised the group would give everything they had, while Jin recalled asking fans to wait at their last Busan concert and expressed gratitude for their return.
Police expected up to 200,000 attendees. Organizers set up additional viewing screens for those farther from the main stage, and the event was live-streamed globally on Netflix. The one-hour show at Gwanghwamun Square marked the start of BTS’s 82-show global tour, a run that industry watchers expect will generate hundreds of millions in revenue.
The concert coincided with the release of BTS’s fifth studio album, Arirang. The label reported nearly 4 million copies sold in 24 hours and about five million pre-saves on Spotify — a record for a K-pop band. BTS opened the set with “Body to Body,” the opening track from the new album.
Security was extensive: authorities deployed around 16,000 police and security personnel, shutting neighborhoods and halting road and rail movement in parts of the city for nearly 30 hours. While tighter safety measures follow the deadly Halloween 2022 crowd crush, some critics said the heavy presence undercut the symbolism of the chosen venue. Gwanghwamun Square is widely regarded as Seoul’s spiritual center, a site for mourning, protest and large public gatherings.
Suga told the audience that performing at Gwanghwamun Square and naming the album Arirang — after a centuries-old Korean folk song about separation, longing and resilience — reflected the group’s focus on identity. BTS, short for Bangtan sonyeondan (Bulletproof Boy Scouts), debuted in 2013 and has built a global “Army” of supporters. In 2020 they became the first K-pop act to top Billboard’s Hot 100 with “Dynamite.” The band has also promoted messages of self-reflection and supported causes including UNICEF campaigns, Black Lives Matter, and efforts to combat anti-Asian racism.
