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BTS Free “Comeback Live” Concert Set for March 21 at Gwanghwamun Square, Netflix to Stream Globally

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  • A Japanese tourist poses for a photo at the top of a staircase promoting BTS' comeback in March at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul on Jan. 22, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    A Japanese tourist poses for a photo at the top of a staircase promoting BTS' comeback in March at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul on Jan. 22, 2026. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • K-pop boy group BTS is seen in this photo provided by BigHit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    K-pop boy group BTS is seen in this photo provided by BigHit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • K-pop boy group BTS is seen in this photo provided by BigHit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    K-pop boy group BTS is seen in this photo provided by BigHit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • In this file photo, a fan takes a photo of stairs with a BTS photo card at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul on Jan. 6, 2026. The steps are decorated to promote K-pop juggernaut BTS, which is set to return with its fifth studio album in March. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    In this file photo, a fan takes a photo of stairs with a BTS photo card at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul on Jan. 6, 2026. The steps are decorated to promote K-pop juggernaut BTS, which is set to return with its fifth studio album in March. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • K-pop boy group BTS is seen in this photo provided by BigHit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    K-pop boy group BTS is seen in this photo provided by BigHit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) Source Full size

Free concert announced with historic venue and massive online reach BTS will perform a free open‑air show on March 21 at Gwanghwamun Square and the adjacent palace grounds, marking their first new release in three years and nine months [1]. The event will accommodate 15,000 fans on‑site and 13,000 at Seoul Plaza, though organizers expect crowds to swell far beyond official limits [1]. Tickets are distributed at no cost through Hybe’s Weverse platform, and the concert will be livestreamed worldwide on Netflix, targeting 300 million users across 190 countries [1].

Performance design blends royal procession with traditional Korean music The opening sequence will have the seven members walk through Geunjeongmun and Heungnyemun gates, exiting via Gwanghwamun gate before appearing on the restored woldae stage once used by Joseon kings [1]. The show will feature 50 dancers and 13 traditional musicians to echo the “Arirang” album theme, while media facades project Korean cultural motifs onto historic gates [1]. A Netflix documentary, “BTS: The Return,” will air March 27, and the 14‑track album “Arirang” drops March 20 at 1 p.m. [1].

Seoul implements extensive crowd‑control and safety protocols Mayor Oh Se‑hoon’s team divided Gwanghwamun Square into zones, assigning safety personnel to manage entry and exit flow and using a disaster‑situation room for real‑time crowd density monitoring [2]. Firefighters, medical crews, and police will be on standby, while bus and subway routes are being rerouted to reduce traffic congestion around the venue [2]. The city also launched anti‑price‑gouging inspections targeting tourists, deploying undercover agents at hotels and markets to prevent overcharging [2].

Supplementary cultural events aim to enrich fan experience and disperse crowds Nearby attractions such as Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Seoul Plaza, and the Han River will host street performances, dance festivals, and other activities to draw attendees away from the main site [2]. Officials anticipate that while official capacity is limited, the open‑air nature of the concert could attract up to 200,000 spectators, prompting heightened security and logistical coordination [1][2].

Sources

Timeline

Dec 16, 2025 – Culture Minister Chae Hwi‑young announces a policy to “improve the concert environment to promote K‑pop,” including a 50,000‑seat dome stadium, new arena‑style halls in Seoul and Goyang, and the short‑term use of regional sports facilities starting next year; the Seoul Arena and Goyang Arena are slated for completion around 2027‑2028. [8]

Dec 31, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026 – Seoul stages a citywide New Year countdown as part of the Seoul Light Gwanghwamun festival, turning Gwanghwamun Square into a massive digital‑art canvas that draws nearly 2 million visitors and showcases the city’s capacity for large public spectacles. [7]

Jan 19, 2026 – Hybe submits an application to the Korea Heritage Service for a “K‑heritage and K‑pop fusion concert” at Gyeongbok Palace, Gwanghwamun Square, the woldae stage and Sungnyemun gate, linking BTS’s March comeback with traditional Korean culture; officials note that approval “hinges on a safety plan to prevent crowd‑related accidents.” [5][6]

Jan 21, 2026 – The Cultural Heritage Committee grants conditional filming permission for BTS to pre‑record footage at Gyeongbok Palace and Sungnyemun gate, with a subcommittee tasked to assess any impact on cultural assets before the March event. [4]

Jan 22, 2026 – Seoul’s metropolitan government conditionally approves BTS’s comeback show at Gwanghwamun Square, imposing safety rules on crowd flow and traffic and confirming planned audiences of 18,000 at Gwanghwamun and 30,000 at Seoul Plaza; the city highlights that it would be the “first solo K‑pop act at Gwanghwamun.” [3]

Feb 4, 2026 – Mayor Oh Se‑hoon leads a coordination meeting to finalize crowd‑control and anti‑price‑gouging measures for the March 21 concert, establishing zone‑based entry, real‑time monitoring, standby emergency services, and undercover hotel inspections. [2]

Mar 20, 2026 – BTS releases its fifth studio album Arirang, the first full‑group comeback in nearly four years, described as “an expression of the group’s Korean identity rooted in heritage.” [1][3][4][5][6]

Mar 21, 2026 – BTS stages a free “Comeback Live” concert at historic Gwanghwamun Square and palace grounds, opening with a royal‑procession through Geunjeongmun and Heungnyemun, featuring 50 dancers, 13 traditional musicians, and a projected capacity of 15,000 on‑site (potentially 200,000 outside); the show is directed by Hamish Hamilton, livestreamed on Netflix to an estimated 300 million users, and precedes a documentary. [1]

Mar 27, 2026 – Netflix premieres the documentary “BTS: The Return,” chronicling the creation of the Arirang album and the March 21 concert, giving global fans behind‑the‑scenes access. [1]

2027‑2028 (planned) – The Seoul Arena and Goyang Arena, part of the mid‑term cultural infrastructure plan, are expected to be completed, expanding venues capable of hosting large‑scale K‑pop concerts. [8]

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