ReviewBTS flexes K-pop dominance with historic Gwanghwamun comeback show

BTS performs during its comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Saturday. Joint Press Corps

Superstar group BTS wrapped up its long-awaited comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square Saturday evening, transforming one of the capital’s most historic landmarks into an open-air K-pop stage.

The performance, titled “BTS COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG,” marked the group’s first full-member concert in three years and five months, coming a day after the release of its fifth studio album, “ARIRANG.”

The timing gave the show an added jolt of urgency, as fans arrived eager to become the first to witness the new material go live.

The single-night show unfolded against the illuminated facade of Gwanghwamun gate, where large-scale projection mapping and synchronized lighting effects turned the landmark into a dynamic concert backdrop, seen through the picture frame-like stage structure.

BTS performs during its comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Saturday. RM, right, who has a leg injury, performs sitting on a stool. Joint Press Corps

Staging a comeback at one of Seoul’s most symbolically charged public spaces underscored the themes of identity, origin and renewal that run through BTS' new album. The choice also amplified the group’s long-standing narrative of representing Korean culture on a global stage, now brought back to a historic domestic site.

As music boomed from the speakers at 8 p.m. sharp to signal the start of the concert, roars from tens of thousands of fans filled central Seoul. The fans, most of whom had been waiting near the venue for hours, showed no signs of fatigue in supporting the members' return to the stage.

In response to the enthusiasm, the group kicked off the show with an electrifying rendition of “Body to Body,” the opening track of the new album. It was one of the most talked-about songs on the album, as part of it infuses the traditional Korean folk song “Arirang.” Fans couldn't get enough of it, collectively absorbing the song to the last note.

The group wasted no time, as it moved on to perform “Hooligan” and “2.0,” both hip-hop-influenced tracks from the latest album. Aggressive stage formations, combined with a dazzling megacrew dance performance, drew sustained cheers from the crowd.

BTS performs during its comeback concert in Seoul, Saturday, with the stage set up against the backdrop of Gyeongbok Palace. Joint Press Corps

Briefly addressing the crowd after the opening sequence, leader RM — who appeared onstage but was unable to fully perform due to an ankle injury — told fans, “It feels like we are greeting you like this again after four years,” followed by an eruption of cheers.

“The last time we gathered like this as a full group was at the Busan concert a few years ago," eldest member Jin added. "I’m so happy and grateful to be able to face you all again.”

Reflecting on the decision to hold the comeback show at Gwanghwamun, Jimin said, “I’m so happy to be reunited as seven. Thank you sincerely for filling Gwanghwamun Square. I feel truly overwhelmed with gratitude.”

“I’m incredibly thankful that we’re able to perform at Gwanghwamun Square, one of the most historic places," Suga added. "We titled our new album ‘ARIRANG’ because we wanted to show our identity, and standing here at Gwanghwamun carries that same meaning.”

BTS performs during the group's comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, Saturday. Courtesy of BigHit Music/Netflix

The group then moved into earlier hits, including “Butter,” a digital single released in 2021, and “MIC Drop” from their 2017 album “LOVE YOURSELF: Her.”

Fans sang along to every word, underscoring BTS’ status at the forefront of K-pop’s global popularity. Despite having been away from the stage for so long, the group’s star power had not faded — it had only grown more polished.

The performance continued with five additional songs from the latest album: “Aliens,” “FYA,” lead track “SWIM,” “Like Animals” and a non-explicit version of “Normal.” Each segment was accompanied by shifting visual motifs and dynamic lighting changes that helped maintain momentum throughout the set.

BTS wrapped up the 60-minute show with “Dynamite,” one of the group’s most popular singles, released in 2020. The upbeat disco-pop number transformed the square into a sea of jumping silhouettes, closing the set on an exuberant note.

For an encore, the group performed “Mikrokosmos,” from its 2019 album “MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA.” The softer staging created a reflective closing moment, with fans raising their phones' flashlights in unison as the song drifted through the night air.

The members of BTS appear on stage during the group's comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Saturday. Joint Press Corps

The production, according to BTS' label BigHit Music, placed strong emphasis on blending contemporary pop staging with Korean imagery.

Ink wash painting-style media art was projected onto stage structures, while performers from the National Gugak Center were also seen in selected segments, adding traditional sonic textures to the visual storytelling.

The seven members' onstage outfits were inspired by traditional Korean military and court attire reinterpreted in performance-ready fabrics. Flowing silhouettes and details added visual drama during choreography-heavy sequences.

Creative director Hamish Hamilton, known for staging major productions for pop stars including Beyonce and Madonna, led the show’s visual direction.

The concert was livestreamed worldwide on Netflix, marking the platform’s first real-time broadcast of a standalone artist performance. The global stream extended the concert's reach far beyond the square itself, allowing millions of viewers to experience the event simultaneously.

Fans cheer during BTS' comeback concert in Seoul, Saturday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul