BTS kicked off their global tour with a comeback concert held at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Plaza (광화문 광장) after all members completed military service, drawing tens of thousands of fans and disrupting normal city traffic. The concert coincided with the release of their new album Arirang and marked a high-profile return that was streamed live on Netflix.

The scale of the event reflected more than a typical concert: available reports describe large crowds converging on the city center, prompting traffic control measures by Seoul authorities and creating scenes described as city-wide disruption. Media attention was immediate and international, with multiple major outlets—including CBS, Reuters, CNA, and Soompi—noting the significance of the reunion and the logistical impact of so many global fans traveling to Seoul for the comeback.

Commercial and streaming milestones accompanied the live event. The album Arirang launched with notably strong first-day sales, reported at 3.98 million copies, and the title track’s music video, SWIM, surpassed 40 million views. Those figures were cited alongside claims that the release set new benchmarks on major streaming platforms, reinforcing the commercial strength of the reunion.

Streaming platforms registered renewed demand for the group: reports indicate that both Apple Music and Spotify saw record-setting activity tied to the release, and the Netflix live broadcast extended the concert’s reach to audiences who could not attend in person. Together, the on-site turnout and global streaming presence underscored how the comeback blended large-scale in-person spectacle with immediate international distribution.

The reunion itself represents a milestone in K-pop history: all seven members reassembled after completing military duties, and organizers and media characterized the event as among the largest comeback moments the genre has seen. With the Seoul concert serving as the launch of a wider world tour, the band’s return was framed both as a cultural moment for South Korea and as the opening chapter of a tour whose full global impact will be tracked in coming weeks.