South Korea shut down the heart of Seoul on Saturday (March 21, 20260 for a comeback concert by K-pop supergroup BTS, as authorities prepare for an estimated 260,000 fans to flood the city’s streets and millions more to watch the show live on Netflix.
The one-hour-long concert, set to be held in the capital’s historic Gwanghwamun Square, marks the release of the seven-member group’s first new album in more than three years, and the start of a global tour in April.
BTS made their debut in 2013 and have since gone on to global superstardom, becoming the most-streamed K-pop artist globally on Spotify, with its members invited to the White House and partnering with the UN General Assembly. In 2022, the group went on hiatus so the members could complete South Korea’s mandatory military service.
BTS announces schedule for world tour ahead of album release
“The City of Seoul will do its best to make it flexible - to make [the performance] both safe and enjoyable,” said Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon on Thursday as he checked safety measures put in place.
