BTS to Hold Free Concert in Gwanghwamun on March 21 After 3 Years and 9 Months of Absence

BTS is returning in its full lineup for the first time in 3 years and 9 months, organizing a free concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on March 21 to celebrate the release of their fifth studio album. This event will mark the first global presentation of the new album by BTS, and extensive infrastructure preparations are underway amid extreme interest from fans.

Following the release of their fifth studio album, “Arirang,” on March 20, BTS will hold “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG” at Gwanghwamun Square starting at 8 p.m. on March 21. Their agency, HYBE, is preparing a set list that includes new tracks from the album as well as beloved previous hits recognized worldwide.

The concert is expected to last approximately 1 hour. HYBE stated that they set the duration at 1 hour considering the unique location of Gwanghwamun Square in the heart of Seoul. This decision was made after taking into account various factors such as the outdoor public space, audience safety, on-site control, convenience for public transportation, and minimizing noise at night. Although rumors circulated online claiming the Seoul Metropolitan Government restricted the concert duration, HYBE clarified that the timing was decided by their company, having requested 1 hour since discussions about the event began in December of the previous year. The Seoul Metropolitan Government also stated that determining the concert format and duration is entirely within the rights of the organizers.

The police estimate that around 230,000 people will gather in the area from the concert stage to Gyeongbokgung’s Daehanmun Gate, with up to 260,000 people possibly present by Sungnyemun Gate. To manage this crowd, the police plan to implement a “stadium-style” crowd control method by dividing the event area into four zones—core, hot, warm, and cold—and responding in stages. Subway stations near the concert site, including Gwanghwamun, Gyeongbokgung, and City Hall, will not stop services on event day. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will also conduct extensive CCTV monitoring and guide crowd entry and exit in an orderly manner.

When ticket sales began on the 23rd, 13,000 general admission seats were sold out instantly, and the waiting list reached nearly 100,000 people at the start of sales. To accommodate fans who cannot attend in person, the organizers are considering setting up large screens near Seoul Square. The concert will be streamed live to over 190 countries worldwide via Netflix.

The National Heritage Administration and related agencies have activated emergency protocols to prevent damage to cultural heritage due to the massive crowd. Gyeongbokgung will be completely closed on event day, and the National Palace Museum of Korea will also close temporarily. The Museum of Korean History, located near Gwanghwamun, will also be closed on that day, while the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts is canceling or adjusting scheduled musicals, dramas, and ballet performances.

Meanwhile, concerns are rising among fans who failed to secure tickets about them sleeping outdoors all night. Although the police plan to deploy officers to patrol the area starting the day before the concert, simply waiting to watch the performance is not considered a clear violation of the law, so they will respond through administrative guidance and persuasion. Online, reports have emerged of ticket scams involving excessive fees under the pretext of buying tickets on behalf of others, and the police have identified 81 suspicious posts and requested their removal.