BTS returned to Seoul with a free outdoor comeback concert, “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE：ARIRANG,” at Gwanghwamun Plaza the day after releasing their new album, drawing approximately 42,000 attendees and creating a festival-like atmosphere across the capital. The event marked the seven-member group’s first full-stage return after members completed military service and followed the release of their album “ARIRANG.”

Event overview

The concert, staged at Gwanghwamun Plaza, was billed as a free outdoor celebration and quickly filled the area with fans from Seoul and abroad. According to the provided source notes from ANNnewsCH, around 42,000 people attended the performance, making it one of the largest public gatherings for a K-pop comeback in recent years. The timing was notable: it was the group’s first full seven-member appearance since all members completed military duties, and it took place the day after the release of their first album in three years, amplifying both local excitement and international attention.

Performance and setlist

Onstage, BTS performed tracks from the new album ARIRANG alongside long-time hits, delivering numbers such as “Body to Body,” “2.0,” “SWIM,” and “Dynamite.” The mix of new material and familiar favorites allowed the group to showcase their latest work while reconnecting with fans through songs that have shaped their global profile. Multiple live streams and extensive news coverage across YouTube channels helped viewers worldwide share the live experience, with available reports indicating high view counts and broad international reporting.

Atmosphere and fan response

The crowd reaction turned central Seoul into a sea of purple and celebration, with N서울타워 reportedly illuminated in violet as part of the fan-driven display. Fans known as ARMY gathered not only at the plaza but throughout surrounding streets, transforming the neighborhood into a spontaneous festival space. The scene combined the intimacy of a communal celebration with the scale of a major concert, underscoring the emotional weight of the group’s return to full activities.

Significance

Beyond the immediate spectacle, the concert carried symbolic importance as BTS‘s first complete-group performance after military service and as the public kickoff to the album cycle for “ARIRANG.” Coverage from ANNnewsCH and the volume of live-streamed viewership reinforced the event’s global resonance, positioning the concert as a historic moment in the group’s ongoing career and in contemporary K-pop fandom.