And they are back…!
K-pop supergroup BTS performed for tens of thousands of fans in Seoul on Saturday, marking their first concert in over three years.
The event prompted authorities to shut down the city’s historic downtown, though turnout fell short of expectations.
The hour-long outdoor show at Gwanghwamun Square served as the group’s official comeback. BTS, credited with propelling Korean pop music to global fame, had been on hiatus since 2022 while members completed mandatory military service.
Their return coincided with the release of a new album on Friday, which their label reported sold nearly 4 million copies on its first day.
The group is also preparing for a global tour next month, touted as the largest in K-pop history.
Although only 22,000 tickets were available for the inner concert area, Seoul officials had expected up to 260,000 people to gather in surrounding streets. Barricades closed off large sections of the city, but most fans opted to stay home.
City estimates cited by Yonhap News Agency put attendance at 40,000–42,000. Fans, known as the BTS ARMY, were able to watch the concert via live streaming on Netflix, which broadcasted the show to 190 countries.
