BTS Plans “K-Heritage Comeback Concert” at Gwanghwamun Plaza; Review by National Heritage Administration Ahead

The group BTS is preparing a large-scale comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Plaza to announce their full reunion on March 20. HYBE has submitted requests for usage permits to relevant agencies including the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the police force, and the National Heritage Administration to hold the event in national heritage sites such as Gyeongbokgung Palace and Sungnyemun Gate.

HYBE has applied to name the concert “A Performance Fusing K-Heritage with K-Pop,” and the locations requested include Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gwanghwamun Plaza and its surrounding areas, and Sungnyemun Gate. The National Heritage Administration plans to discuss this matter at its Cultural Heritage Committee meeting on January 20 at 2 p.m.

This concert, which will mark the group’s first full-group stage performance in South Korea ahead of their large-scale world tour starting in April, is intended to be free of charge. Permits for using Gwanghwamun Plaza have also been applied for, with entry restricted to between 15,000 and 20,000 attendees selected through prior registration. The potential dates for the concert are being considered as March 20, the day of their reunion, and the weekends surrounding it, on the 21st and 22nd.

Gwanghwamun Plaza is a space that represents Korea’s identity, having hosted voluntary citizen gatherings and group cheers during events such as the World Cup. BTS’s new fifth studio album, “Arirang,” captures the group’s identity and roots originating from Korea through music, and the selection of this venue for the concert is seen as an effort to fully reflect that meaning.

BTS has previously performed in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace’s Geunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeonghoeru Tower, and Sungnyemun Gate, using these locations to promote Korea as cultural ambassadors.

Given that tens of thousands of people are expected to gather on concert day, HYBE, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and the police force are focusing particularly on safety management. Considering Gwanghwamun Plaza’s open layout, there is a possibility that fans may gather in nearby areas, so they are discussing various strategies for assessing the expected crowd size and implementing corresponding safety measures.

As a reference, during the 2022 Qatar World Cup and the 2018 Russia World Cup, approximately 20,000 people gathered at Gwanghwamun Plaza to cheer as a group. HYBE has informed the National Heritage Administration that “preserving the original integrity of the heritage sites” and “ensuring citizen safety” are their top priorities, adding that they will establish on-site management systems led by skilled professionals and strictly follow heritage protection protocols and crowd safety guidelines.