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The globally popular K-pop group BTS is set to make its long-awaited return with a free concert in Seoul after a four-year hiatus caused by mandatory military service, with the event to be broadcast live on Netflix to audiences in 190 countries.
Interest in BTS’s first performance since completing military duties quickly built up as soon as ticket distribution opened. Free tickets for the concert, scheduled for March 21 at Gwanghwamun Square in South Korea’s capital Seoul, were claimed almost instantly, while reservation platforms reportedly locked up under heavy traffic.
The historic square, located in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace, will host around 15,000 ticket holders. Authorities expect close to 260,000 visitors to travel into the city from other regions, highlighting the scale of anticipation surrounding the group’s return.
The concert marks BTS’s first live appearance together in four years, following a pause during which all seven members fulfilled South Korea’s mandatory military service requirements.
Officials plan to manage the event area as if it were a virtual stadium, setting up 29 designated entry points to control crowd movement and reduce congestion. Police have warned that nearby metro stations and surrounding roads may experience disruptions due to the expected influx of fans.
Local authorities are also organizing additional fan activities around the venue, creating dedicated spaces for roughly 30,000 visitors who may gather near the concert area without tickets.
The one-hour performance will serve as the launch event for BTS’s new album Arirang and will take place ahead of an extensive global tour spanning 82 stops across five continents.
To reach international audiences, the concert will stream live on Netflix, allowing viewers worldwide to tune in simultaneously. The broadcast is expected to extend the event’s reach far beyond Seoul, turning a local performance into a global media moment.
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