First pictures as BTS perform again live in front of a huge crowd

 

South Korea prepares for BTS comeback(Image: EPA)

For the return of BTS, the world's most successful band in recent years, fans flooded the historic heart of Seoul. For the first time since October 2022, the seven K-pop stars RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook performed together at the concert on Saturday at Gwanghwamun Square, according to entertainment company HYBE. The band performed songs from their long-awaited new album, Arirang, which was released on Friday afternoon, in a one-hour performance against the backdrop of a 14th-century gateway to the royal palace. Review: BTS rekindle their flame on Arirang. Entering Seoul's central Gwanghwamun square was like stepping into a temple dedicated to the boyband.  The BTS color of choice, purple, was all over it. The stage itself had the appearance of a triumphal arch. It is a rare honour paid to the seven idols who have become the face of Korea's cultural success.

 The fans are sure to follow the band through its world tour which begins next month.  The band is expected to make $1 billion (£747 million) in sales, but the government has said that it helps South Korea with much more than money.

BTS is everything for us': K-pop fans gather in Seoul for comeback show(image: ShutterStock)

Read More: BTS Arirang review: K-pop idols rekindle their fire

First pictures as BTS perform again live in front of a huge crowd (Image: EPA)

How did people watch the BTS concert?

The concert venue, a smaller area in Gwanghwamun Square that has been cordoned off, was only open to approximately 22,000 people who were able to obtain free tickets. One of the fortunate ones was Ami Ostrovskaia, who moved to Seoul from Russia last year to study. "BTS is the reason I'm here," she says.  "That's why I started learning about Korean culture, food, sports, language, and history." The remainder, including the 58-year-old German architect Margarita Perez, are glued to the enormous screens outside. She has been scouting the area in an effort to "stay nearby" on concert day, despite the fact that she was unable to obtain a ticket. Jacqueline, a teacher from Mexico City who is 29 years old, said that she would also be at Gwanghwamun Square on Saturday to see her favorite stars before they go on tour next month. "The BTS Army has suffered greatly over the past few years. Their solo albums were great, but when they're together, they're even better. The concert was streamed live on Netflix for the benefit of the millions of fans worldwide. Netflix has exclusive rights to live stream the show and produce a documentary about the band's reunion as part of its agreement with BTS. This is a marketing success considering the billions it has invested in Korean entertainment.

Crowd fan of BTS (Image: EPA)

What do we know about Arirang, the new BTS album?

The album's title, Arirang, is the name of Korea's most beloved folk song, a sentimental anthem about moving from hardship towards something better.

 The fact that a group of seven Korean men performed Arirang at Howard University in 1896, making it the first known recording, is not lost on the band. Listening to that wax cylinder recording in a promotional video for the album, RM, V, Jin, Jungkook, Jimin, j-hope, and Suga spin a story that puts them in the same category—exporting Korean culture to the rest of the world—but 130 years later. Bit Hit Music, the band's record label, made the announcement on Saturday that Arirang had sold 3.98 million copies on its first day of release.

Since BTS went on hiatus in 2022, when they were at the height of their fame, years of anticipation culminated in the album and Saturday's comeback concert. In order to sign up for mandatory military service, beginning with Jin in 2022, they did so. In June of last year, Suga was the last to complete service, paving the way for a comeback of the entire group. They will perform in 82 cities around the world, including Singapore, Tokyo, Munich, and Los Angeles. The stakes are high as BTS returns to a K-pop industry that has got bigger and more competitive.

 They have consistently surpassed my expectations. "I believe they'll do their best," says Park Joo-young, a student in her 20s who has been waiting for this for a long time. "They might feel the pressure, but I believe they'll do their best."

How has Seoul prepared for the BTS concert?

The authorities have gone above and beyond. Around 7,000 police officers, including anti-drone SWAT units, have been deployed to manage the crowds at the square as landmarks turn purple. Access to dozens of buildings has been restricted, and three nearby subway stations have been closed, as the central district of the capital has transformed into a massive, open-air stadium for BTS. 31 metal detector-equipped entry points control access to the popular open space that is the square. Although South Korea has strict gun control laws and private ownership is rare - with firearms typically stored at police stations - authorities will temporarily bar civilians from retrieving them.

And as BTS puts Seoul on high alert, local businesss have been buzzing with excitement for the rush of tourists drawn here by their love for the boy band.

 The Korea Culture & Tourism Institute estimated that a single BTS performance could generate up to $842 million before the group went on hiatus. This included spending on tickets and merchandise, lodging, tourism, and other related activities. Hotels in the vicinity were either fully booked or had raised their prices more than a month in advance. In reference to BTS's signature color, the proprietor of a nearby seafood restaurant, Kim Sung-dae, stated, "I'm preparing menus in English, Chinese, and Japanese, and decorating the restaurant with purple flowers."

The concert is happening in Seoul's central historic district (Image: Getty Images)

What are South Koreans saying?

With most of Gwanghwamun Square blocked, forcing pedestrians to take long detours, many nearby events that had been planned well in advance were thrown into uncertainty by the BTS concert.

 This was a particular source of stress for Sohn Yeon-ju, a lawyer in her 30s, who was supposed to hold her wedding near Gwanghwamun Square just hours before the concert.

 By Thursday, she and her hundreds of guests still didn't know how to get to the heavily guarded venue. In the event that the closest subway station was closed, the police informed her that guests might be permitted to board police buses. A Seoul city official told the BBC that authorities had provided the BTS concert with the venue, crowd management and other safety measures - but not direct financial support.

 However, some South Koreans were still divided regarding whether the concert had been given too much attention by authorities. They have brought in a large number of police and fire personnel. If something happens elsewhere, there may be no staff left to respond, and access could be blocked because of the controls," one user wrote on X.

 "If a comeback concert of this scale, one that effectively paralyzes parts of the city center, is allowed, then other artists or agencies may well request to use the same space in the future," said pop music critic Jung Min-jae in another post on X. "On what grounds will the Seoul Metropolitan Government, at that point, approve or deny such requests?" However, these inconveniences are viewed by some as insignificant in comparison to the popularity that BTS has brought to the nation. One nearby resident wrote, "I don't see what the problem is." "BTS has done so much for Korea, elevating our image abroad, with no government support all along.  Why can't we just share the Gwanghwamun public space for one Saturday for their performance?

Ami Ostrovskaia, whose love of BTS inspired her to move to Seoul, will see them live on Saturday(Image: BBC/Jongmin choi)

What do BTS fans think?

The band's millions of fans, who go by the name "The BTS Army," have worked hard to obtain tickets for Saturday's concert. When reservations opened last month, only 13,000 free tickets were taken, which is a small number considering that over 100,000 people had been waiting online. Another 7,000 free tickets were released later, and also sold out within minutes.

 "I tried with both my smartphone and a desktop computer - none of them worked," says Rachel, who doesn't describe herself as a BTS fan but "they're so talented and globally famous that I wanted to take this chance to see them perform live".

 Some have been offended by the free tickets, who claim that it lowers the likelihood of a dedicated BTS.

securing tickets for fans. Fans have even launched campaigns to discourage resales and prevent "no-shows".

 Ami Ostrovskaia, 23, was unsuccessful in obtaining a ticket at first because "I was crying the whole night," but the 23-year-old was fortunate thanks to a friend. "I felt like all my problems had vanished and was so happy. This indicates that after so many years, I will participate in their [full-group] performance. It really means a lot to me."

Source: BBC