BTS will stage a long-awaited comeback concert at a Seoul landmark
[March 19, 2026]
By HYUNG-JIN KIM
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — BTS will stage its long-awaited comeback
concert on Saturday night at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square, one of South
Korea’s most famous landmarks that represents its royal heritage and
political and cultural life.
In a free concert expected to draw tens of thousands of fans, the K-pop
juggernaut's seven members, all South Koreans, will perform songs from
their first album in nearly four years, “ARIRANG,” whose title is taken
from the most beloved traditional folk tune on the Korean Peninsula.
"'ARIRANG' is an album that embodies the origin and identity of BTS and
carries the message that they want to convey now,” Hybe Corp., the
parent company of BTS' management agency, said in response to questions
by The Associated Press. “Considering the symbolic significance of the
word ‘Arirang,’ we've decided to hold a performance at Gwanghwamun, a
place that represents Korea.”
Gwanghwamun is a Seoul landmark
Gwanghwamun Square is named after the huge main gate of nearby
Gyeongbokgung, a royal palace for Korea’s Joseon dynasty, which ruled
the peninsula for more than 500 years until its collapse in 1910.
Located in the heart of Seoul, the sprawling square is home to cultural
and art events. It hosts giant statues of two of Korea's most respected
figures — King Sejong, who invented the Korean script in 1443, and navy
admiral Yi Sun-shin, who defeated the Japanese invasion in the 16th
century.
The square is also a symbol of South Korea’s young, resilient democracy,
the site of massive rallies in times of political upheavals in recent
years.
When then- President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law imposition in late 2024
triggered the most severe crisis for the country’s democracy in decades,
protesters gathered in the square, calling for his ouster. Rallies
blended politics and pop culture, with demonstrators waving colorful
light sticks used at K-pop concerts and signing K-pop tracks such as
Girls’ Generation’s “Into the New World.”
Gwanghwamun concert will reaffirm BTS' roots
Observers say the hourlong Gwanghwamun concert, which will be
livestreamed on Netflix globally, will reaffirm BTS’ identity as a group
that expanded from Korea to the world stage. BTS had been on hiatus
because its members had to complete their mandatory military duties in
South Korea.
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People take photos of a screen promoting a comeback concert of K-pop
group BTS at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
 Ha Jae-keun, a cultural critic, said
that no matter where the BTS holds its comeback concert, it would be
successful. But as the biggest stars of K-pop, BTS likely determined
that appearing at a symbolic Korean site would be “most meaningful,”
he said.
Jung Dukhyun, a pop culture commentator, said the selection of
Gwanghwamun likely reflected a view that Korean traditional culture
and local elements can resonate on a global scale, as seen in the
success of the Netflix sensation “KPop Demon Hunters,” which won the
Oscar for best animated feature and best song for “Golden” this
week.
BTS concert to promote South Korea
Officials believe the concert will likely enhance South Korea's
international cultural influence.
They also plan to take extensive safety steps to prevent
crowd-related incidents.
In a message posted on X on Wednesday, South Korean President Lee
Jae Myung called BTS “a proud artist of the Republic of Korea” and
expressed hope that the concert will show “our beautiful cultural
heritage and the charm of K-culture.”
Besides about 20,000 ticketed fans at the square, about 240,000
others are expected to fill nearby areas to watch the concert on
temporary screens. Authorities plan to block roads, have subway
trains pass through some stations and close the Gyeongbokgung place.
Some residents criticized what they saw as preferential treatment
given to BTS and potential inconvenience to the public. But many
experts say the concert has a big public aspect.
“BTS is the nation's band. Now they intend to hold an open
performance for the public free of charge. I think it would be very
natural for the government to support it,” Ha said.
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Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung contributed to this report.
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