BTS Returns with Comeback Concert in Seoul After 4-Year Hiatus

K-pop supergroup BTS is returning after a four-year hiatus with a massive, free comeback concert in Seoul on Saturday, where thousands of police locked down a central boulevard for the Netflix exclusive, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of fans.

The performance at Gwanghwamun Square marks the beginning of a global tour that includes dozens of shows in the United States, Europe and Asia, and analysts say it could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue each quarter.

All seven members of the group (RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook) recently completed South Korea’s mandatory military service and they hope to reclaim their status as one of the world’s biggest pop groups.

The hour-long concert comes after the group released its fifth album, “ARIRANG,” on Friday, which sold nearly 4 million copies on its first day, the group’s management company, HYBE, said.

HYBE said that RM injured his ankle during rehearsal on Thursday but will perform with some limitations.

Officials expect the BTS concert, which will start at 20:00 (11:00 GMT), to draw more than 200,000 people to the Gwanghwamun area, including 22,000 fans who received free seats in the designated viewing area and other fans who plan to watch from nearby screens. It will be broadcast live on Netflix.

“This will be great because BTS hasn’t been with us that long,” said Dallila Di Tullio, a 32-year-old fan from Italy, who called the concert a once-in-a-century event. Marta Corona, a 25-year-old Polish fan, said she will see BTS in person for the first time since their performance in London in 2019. “It’s been a long time coming, I’m very excited,” he said.

BTS debuted in 2013 and has a global army of supporters who call themselves “The Army.” They became the first K-pop group to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2020 with their first song entirely in English, “Dynamite”.

Pop culture commentator Jung Dukhyun said that the impact of BTS returning as a full group after a years-long hiatus would be tremendous, at a time when the global fan base for K-pop is becoming much stronger, as evidenced by the success of Netflix’s sensational animation “KPop Demon Hunters.”

Criticisms of strict crowd controls Police and city officials enforce strict crowd control measures; closing nearby streets, roads and museums, shutting down the area’s subway and bus services, and shuttering dozens of surrounding buildings; This means a full-day closure of the area.

Cars will be banned from entering the main road between Gwanghwamun and Seoul City Hall for more than 30 hours until Sunday morning. The government has stepped up counter-terrorism surveillance, citing global tensions and large crowds of international supporters, while police have used surveillance vehicles and jamming equipment to thwart unauthorized drones. The restrictions caused nearby stores to close and deliveries to be paused.

As fans and curious onlookers flocked to the streets around the square on Saturday, thousands of police officers formed a tight perimeter around the performance area, directing the crowds through a maze of fences and buses. Although the doors did not open until the afternoon, concertgoers began lining up in the afternoon to pass through metal detectors at designated entry points and secure spots on nearby roads.

“I was hoping to do some research to see if we could go through some holes or be around. Apparently we can’t because they’re going to ask people to move or not be close,” said Bernice Sanchez, a 52-year-old fan from Switzerland who was looking for a place to stay before the evening’s concert.

While South Korean authorities have taken crowd safety more seriously since the deadly Halloween rush that killed nearly 160 people in 2022, critics say the controls are excessive and undermine the symbolism of demonstrating in Gwanghwamun, seen as Seoul’s spiritual heart and a prime gathering place.

In recent years, hundreds of thousands of people have gathered in Gwanghwamun to mourn, protest and celebrate as the country endured tragedy and political turmoil. The BTS concert took place nearly a year after waves of demonstrators flooded the region calling for the removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who briefly declared martial law in December 2024. These months-long rallies were marked by a festive atmosphere and a heady mix of politics and pop culture, with protesters singing and waving colorful K-pop light sticks, and ended without any major safety incidents.

Tapping into culture and heritage The new BTS album “ARIRANG” draws on a centuries-old folk song considered an unofficial anthem in both North and South Korea, while Gwanghwamun and the nearby Gyeongbok Palace provide an extensive historical backdrop for Saturday’s show.

South Korean officials rely on this event to promote the country’s culture and growing soft power. In a statement on Wednesday, President Lee Jae Myung said BTS’ performance will provide “a special moment that people around the world will remember for a long time.”

Answering questions from the Associated Press, HYBE said, “One pillar of the album is defined by BTS’ identity, while the other is shaped by the emotions they are feeling right now, especially universal emotions such as joy, pleasure and deep love.” he said.

The 14-track record, which includes lead single “SWIM”, was recorded in Los Angeles while the band was reuniting after years away.

The group’s comeback coincides with the global rise of K-pop The group’s comeback comes after a nearly four-year hiatus caused by South Korea’s mandatory military service, which requires most able-bodied men to serve 18 to 21 months under a conscription system aimed at deterring North Korean aggression. BTS members began their service in 2022, and Suga became the last member to complete his service in June 2025.

Despite their years-long hiatus, BTS’s outlook remains strong, bolstered by its massive fandom and the steady global rise of K-pop, experts say. The group’s “ARIRANG” world tour will be the largest K-pop tour ever in terms of scale and revenue, with 82 shows planned in nearly 50,000-seat stadiums around the world, South Korea’s SK Securities said on Wednesday.

Culture critic Ha Jae-keun said, “They took quite a long break, but they still have a historically strong fandom. When they return, they will probably enjoy a warm welcome and intense excitement around the world.” “I think they will probably have a second golden age.”