At 8 p.m. on March 21, “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG” will take place at Gwanghwamun Square, marking the full-group return of all seven members after an extended hiatus. Given the group’s immense global popularity and the fact that the event is free to attend, Seoul Metropolitan Police predict that as many as 260,000 spectators could flood the downtown area. The staggering projection has prompted authorities to activate one of the most extensive security operations ever deployed for an entertainment event in South Korea.
In response to the anticipated crowd surge, officials have implemented strict safety and crowd-control measures to minimize risks of congestion or unexpected incidents. Notably, elite SWAT units have been mobilized to conduct explosive detection sweeps and closely monitor any suspicious activity near the stage area. In addition, 13 major crime investigation teams from nine frontline police stations will be stationed on high alert to respond swiftly to emergencies.
On the organizer’s side, HYBE confirmed that 3,553 security personnel will be deployed throughout the venue to support crowd management and safety operations.
Traffic control around Gwanghwamun will also be heavily reinforced. Seoul Metro plans to operate certain subway lines in a “no-stop” mode at three key stations Gwanghwamun, Gyeongbokgung, and City Hall to prevent dangerous overcrowding underground. In a rare move, the Korea Heritage Service has announced that Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Palace Museum of Korea, and nearby parking facilities will be closed for the entire day on March 21. The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts will also cancel all scheduled performances. Additionally, 894 public restrooms will be installed or allocated to accommodate the massive influx of attendees.
Although the event is free, a designated VIP zone near the stage will host between 13,000 and 20,000 attendees who must register in advance, with a strict one-ticket-per-person policy. As expected, the registration system crashed almost immediately after opening, overwhelmed by more than 100,000 simultaneous access attempts. The surge in visitors has also driven hotel prices in central Seoul to spike up to five times their usual rates, prompting authorities to step in against price gouging.
To ensure maximum safety, HYBE has confirmed that the Gwanghwamun concert will last only one hour. However, the global reach of the event will extend far beyond Seoul, as Netflix will livestream the performance to more than 190 countries and territories. The broadcast will be directed by Hamish Hamilton, the acclaimed producer behind the Super Bowl Halftime Show, the London Olympics opening ceremony, and major awards ceremonies such as the Oscars, Grammys, and Emmys.
The Gwanghwamun performance serves as the official launch of BTS’ new album ARIRANG, set for release on March 20. The 14-track album features contributions from internationally renowned producers including Max Martin, Jon Bellion, Diplo, and Ryan Tedder. Following domestic promotions, BTS will kick off the Arirang World Tour on April 9, 2026, in Goyang. The tour is scheduled to run through 2027, covering 34 cities across 23 countries with a total of 82 shows signaling a monumental global comeback after years away from full-group activities.
Sources: K14