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South Korea has launched a sweeping security operation ahead of BTS's long-awaited reunion concert in the capital, with authorities raising terror alert levels and imposing citywide traffic restrictions to protect the estimated 200,000 fans expected to gather Saturday, March 21.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for top-level security and coordination across all government agencies, stressing that readiness for potential terrorist attacks must be ensured at the concert. Lee reiterated the call in a social media post on Wednesday, urging thorough interagency efforts to manage the event and respond to emergencies.
Lee also asked the public to cooperate with on-site safety personnel and to be considerate of one another, expressing hope the concert would demonstrate the power of South Korean culture and "become a special moment long remembered by people around the world."
The central government has raised its terror alert for the concert venue and surrounding areas to "caution", the second-lowest tier, in response to what officials described as the current global security environment. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok ordered appropriate measures to be taken, citing "terror threats" that "cannot be ignored" under current conditions.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government confirmed that police, traffic officers, and fire and emergency departments will patrol the streets and remain on standby throughout the event, which is expected to be the largest public concert ever held in the country.
The "BTS The Comeback Live | Arirang" concert is set to take place Saturday evening at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. The area will be closed to all vehicle traffic from 9 p.m. Friday until early Sunday morning. Sejong-daero, the main street running from Seoul Plaza to Gwanghwamun Square, will be fully blocked, with nearby roads, including Sajik-ro and Saemunan-ro, also restricted on the day of the performance.
Public transport will also be significantly affected. Eighty-six bus routes will be diverted or rerouted to avoid crowded streets. The Gwanghwamun, City Hall, and Gyeongbokgung subway stations will be closed, with trains bypassing these stops between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. Authorities will crack down on illegal parking, and public bike rentals will be suspended in the area.
The free outdoor concert marks BTS's first full-group performance in nearly four years. All seven members fulfilled their mandatory military service obligations, required for able-bodied South Korean men for at least 18 months, and were discharged between 2024 and 2025. The group last released an album in 2022.
Saturday’s free outdoor show marks BTS’s first full-group performance in nearly four years. The group paused its career in 2022 with all seven members enlisting for South Korea’s mandatory military service. Their new album, “Arirang,” drops March 20, after more than five years. The concert at Gwanghwamun Square will be livestreamed globally on Netflix, marking the first time the platform has broadcast a live music performance from South Korea to a worldwide audience.
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