BTS Confirms Solo Concert at Gwanghwamun Square｜Comeback Stage for 5th Full Album, Conditionally Approved by Cultural Heritage Administration
BTS will hold their first-ever solo concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on March 21. This free performance celebrates the release of their 5th full-length album, “ARIRANG”, and has been effectively confirmed after the Cultural Heritage Administration granted conditional approval for the venue.
It will be the first time since the square’s establishment that a specific singer or group has held a standalone concert at Gwanghwamun Square.
① Cultural Heritage Administration Grants Conditional Approval… Filming at Gyeongbokgung & Sungnyemun Included
On the 20th, the Royal Palaces and Tombs Subcommittee of the Cultural Heritage Committee reviewed HYBE’s application for the “K-Heritage × K-Pop Fusion Performance”, which includes venue use and filming at Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gwanghwamun, and Sungnyemun.
The committee approved the venue use on the condition that a special subcommittee will be formed to further review the impact of detailed stage production on cultural heritage sites.
- Staged appearances from key areas of Gyeongbokgung to Gwanghwamun
- Live broadcast of a ceremonial march across the Gwanghwamun plaza
- Media façade projections on the Gwanghwamun wall and Sungnyemun fortress
HYBE stated, “Gwanghwamun Square is a symbolic space that represents Korea’s identity,” adding, “We aim to reaffirm BTS’s identity and express our love for Korea.”
② 5th Full Album “ARIRANG” Release… First Group Comeback in 3 Years and 9 Months
BTS will release their 5th full album, “ARIRANG”, on March 20. This marks their first new album in 3 years and 9 months since the 2022 anthology album “Proof.”
As their first full-group stage in 3 years and 5 months following their military service hiatus, the Gwanghwamun concert holds special meaning for fans.
HYBE plans to use this concert as the starting point for a 79-show world tour beginning in April.
③ Live Broadcast to 190 Countries Worldwide… 50 Million Viewers Expected
The Gwanghwamun concert will be live-streamed via OTT platforms to 190 countries worldwide.
HYBE estimates that approximately 50 million viewers will tune in live. This could set a record for one of the highest concurrent viewership figures for a single concert globally.
④ Safety Measures for Large Crowds at Gwanghwamun Square
The Seoul Metropolitan Government and police are preparing crowd safety management measures in anticipation of large attendance.
Referring to the 2022 Qatar World Cup street cheering event that drew around 20,000 people, authorities are reviewing traffic controls, crowd management strategies, and emergency response routes.
According to the application details, a nighttime media façade (LED light projection) event will also take place on the Gwanghwamun wall and the Sungnyemun fortress.
⑤ BTS Comeback, a “Signal Flare” That Will Go Down in K-Pop History
This performance, filming, and media event serve as a symbolic signal flare announcing BTS’s full-scale comeback.
The combination of traditional heritage sites such as Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung with global K-pop icons BTS is being praised for presenting a new cultural model: “K-Heritage × K-Pop.”
Key Summary (3 Lines)
① BTS to hold their first solo free concert at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21
② Conditional approval granted, including filming at Gyeongbokgung and Sungnyemun
③ Live broadcast to 190 countries, with 50 million viewers expected
BTS’s Gwanghwamun concert goes beyond a simple comeback stage, carrying symbolic meaning as a global fusion of Korean cultural heritage and K-pop.
With a new album after 3 years and 9 months, the launch of a 79-show world tour, and a stage watched by 50 million people worldwide, this performance is highly likely to become a defining moment in K-pop history.
Related Articles: Tracklist Analysis of BTS’s 5th Full Album “ARIRANG” | Complete Guide to BTS World Tour Schedule