More than 100,000 fans packed Gwanghwamun Square on Saturday to see BTS take the stage together for the first time since their military service hiatus. The historic Gyeongbokgung Palace provided a dramatic backdrop for the “Kings of K-pop.”
"An estimated 104,000 fans attended the Gwanghwamun Square concert, based on ticket sales and data from the country's three major mobile carriers," HYBE said in a statement to AFP.
Fans waved glowsticks, sang along to the hits, and captured every moment on their phones as giant screens ensured everyone could enjoy the show. Netflix streamed the concert live to roughly 190 countries.
Around 15,000 police and security staff managed the massive crowd, with barricades lining the roads and nearby venues temporarily closed.
The band’s latest album, ARIRANG, released the day before, sold nearly four million copies on its first day and reflects BTS’s Korean identity.
After Seoul, BTS will launch their ARIRANG world tour on 9 April in Goyang, spanning 82 shows across 34 cities in Asia, North America, Europe and Latin America. Tickets in South Korea, North America, and Europe sold out within hours.
This gallery captures the energy, excitement, and spectacle of BTS’s long-awaited return to the stage.
Credits: AP, AFP PHOTO / BIGHIT MUSIC, NETFLIX
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