BTS’ Gwanghwamun show sparks debate as city prepares unprecedented downtown lockdown
BTS / Xportsnews
A massive outdoor comeback show by BTS in central Seoul is already stirring controversy, even before the music begins.
Authorities are preparing an unprecedented level of security and traffic control around Gwanghwamun Square ahead of the group’s upcoming event, prompting complaints from some residents and online commentators who say the measures are excessive.
The concert, titled “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG,” will take place on March 21 in the historic square in central Seoul, according to organizers. Police and the city government expect as many as 260,000 fans to gather for the performance.
To prepare for the crowd, officials have designated 31 buildings near the square as priority monitoring sites. Authorities have requested partial closures of building entrances and restrictions on rooftop and upper floor access.
The measures are intended to prevent potential falls from high vantage points and to stop so-called “free riders” from watching the concert from nearby rooftops without tickets.
Security preparations are extensive with more than 6,500 police officers from multiple divisions — including riot police, traffic units, detectives, crime prevention teams and special forces — to be deployed. Metal detectors will also be installed at 31 official entry gates to screen attendees.
Traffic controls will further reshape the downtown area. The main boulevard Sejong-daero, between Gwanghwamun and Seoul City Hall, will be closed to vehicles from 9 p.m. on March 20 until 6 a.m. on March 22.
Subway operations will also be affected. In the afternoon of March 21, trains on nearby lines will skip stops at Gwanghwamun, City Hall and Gyeongbokgung stations to ease crowd congestion.
However, criticism began circulating online as details of the security plan emerged. Some commenters deemed the measures to be excessive, describing them as “over the top.” Another comment read: “If it’s this complicated, just hold it in a concert hall,” and “Why shut down busy streets and businesses for a pop concert?”
Others questioned the choice of venue, noting that Gwanghwamun Square —often used for public rallies and national celebrations — is located in one of Seoul’s busiest government and business districts.
Event organizers previously addressed another point of debate: the concert’s one-hour runtime, which some fans criticized as unusually short.
HYBE said the decision was not mandated by city authorities. Instead, the company said it considered “the unique nature of an outdoor public space, audience safety, on-site crowd control, convenience of public transportation and late-night noise concerns.”
Some nearby buildings are also taking precautions independently. The KT West building, located next to Gwanghwamun Square, plans to close entirely on the day of the concert due to safety concerns. Restaurants and cafés inside the building will also suspend operations.
Meanwhile, a wedding scheduled at the nearby Korea Press Center will proceed as planned, though guests will undergo additional security checks with handheld scanners.
Despite the complaints, others online say strict safety measures are necessary given the scale of the event. Some pointed to the deadly Seoul Halloween crowd crush, which killed more than 150 people in Seoul, as a reminder that crowd control must be taken seriously. Others also mentioned broader global security concerns when discussing the need for heightened vigilance.
The concert coincides with BTS’ highly anticipated return to music. The group will release its fifth full-length album, ‘ARIRANG,’ at 1 p.m. on March 20.
Offline tickets for the Gwanghwamun performance sold out immediately after going on sale, underscoring the group’s continued global popularity. The event will also be streamed live worldwide on Netflix.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.