BTS returns with electrifying ‘ARIRANG’ comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square

A staggering 104,000 fans assembled in Seoul, and the venue was echoing with excitement as the group made their way back to the world stage.

• BTS returned with a live concert at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square
• 104,000 fans attended; show streamed globally on Netflix
• BTS announced a documentary, BTS: The Return, out March 27

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BTS have officially marked their long-awaited return with a spectacular global live stage, BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE ARIRANG. Performed at Gwanghwamun Square—one of Seoul’s most iconic and symbolic landmarks—the 60-minute show was streamed worldwide on Netflix, signalling the comeback of one of the biggest bands on the planet.

The scale of the event was massive and witnessed a huge turnout. A staggering 104,000 fans assembled in Seoul, and the venue was echoing with excitement as the group made their way back to the world stage.

The concert began with the outstanding combination of traditional Korean instruments with modern ones to create a sense of anticipation right from the first moment. As 50 dancers marched onto the stage in perfect grid formation on the upper platform of Gyeongbokgung Palace, they gradually began to disperse to create a pathway to the grand entrance of BTS, which marked the beginning of the concert with the words, “Hello, Seoul! We’re back.”

“Arirang” was the perfect way to begin the concert as the fans cheered with thunderous applause. Right from the first note of the song, the concert was emotional and symbolic, with the outstanding visuals and choreography drawing the audience into the experience right from the beginning.

The larger-than-life show saw a 12-song tracklist, with eight tracks from the ARIRANG album being performed live for the very first time: “Body to Body,” “Hooligan,” “2.0,” “Aliens,” “FYA,” “SWIM,” “Like Animals,” and “NORMAL.”

The visually appealing segment of the night was when they performed the song “Aliens,” which is about the group’s search for their own cultural identity. The stage was adorned with dynamic black and white geongongamri graphics. These four trigrams, represented on the South Korean flag, represent the harmony of the elements of the universe—Heaven, Earth, Water, and Fire.

The K-pop sensations also brought their signature energetic vibes to the stage with some of their biggest global hits. “Butter” and “Dynamite” lit the stage with their infectious energy, sparking massive sing-along moments. “MIC Drop” saw the group perform a bold, high-impact song that got the crowds roaring.

During the performance of songs like “NORMAL,” “Like Animals,” “SWIM,” “FYA,” the subtle integration of elements from the Korean symbol of Taegeuk’s patterns of Geon, Gon, Gam, and Ri was evident.

One of the highlights of the event the performance of their lead single “SWIM,” during which the group presented a more developed emotional presence as a performer. BTS moved deliberately, conveying the emotional weight of the song, demonstrating a more mature style of artistry.

Also read: BTS Gwanghwamun concert backlash escalates as netizens compare disruptions to ‘martial law’

As the night was coming to a close, the group's leader RM addressed the fans, stating, “No matter what happens, we promise to keep swimming together.” The night closed off with the performance of “Dynamite” and “Mikrokosmos.”

Alongside the comeback performance, BTS also announced BTS: The Return, an intimate documentary capturing their journey back to the stage and the making of their new album. The film is set to premiere globally on March 27 on Netflix.