SEOUL – K-pop supergroup BTS returned to the stage Saturday with a free concert in Seoul, drawing an estimated 22,000 fans to Gwanghwamun Square and streaming live to a global audience on Netflix. The performance marked the band’s first as a full group after all seven members completed mandatory military service in South Korea, a requirement for most able-bodied men.
The hour-long concert followed the release of BTS’s fifth album, “ARIRANG,” which had logged millions of preorders since January. RM, the group’s leader, performed with some limitations after sustaining an ankle injury during rehearsal Thursday, according to Hybe, the band’s management company.
Authorities implemented extensive security measures, closing streets, roads, and museums in the area, halting subway and bus services, and sealing off surrounding buildings. The restrictions, prompted in part by heightened global tensions, mirrored those enacted following a deadly crowd surge during Halloween celebrations in 2022 that resulted in nearly 160 fatalities. Police deployed surveillance vehicles and jamming equipment to prevent the use of unauthorized drones.
The concert’s location, Gwanghwamun Square, holds symbolic weight as a prominent gathering space in Seoul, having hosted large-scale demonstrations in recent years, including protests against then-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief imposition of martial law in December 2024. Critics have argued that the stringent security measures surrounding the BTS concert are excessive, given the festive atmosphere and lack of major incidents during those earlier rallies.
“The City of Seoul will do its best to make it flexible – to make (the performance) both safe and enjoyable,” Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon said Thursday as he inspected the safety preparations.
The “ARIRANG” album draws inspiration from a centuries-ancient Korean folk song considered an unofficial anthem in both North and South Korea. Hybe stated that the album’s themes center on BTS’s identity and universal emotions such as joy, pleasure, and love. The 14-track record, featuring the lead single “SWIM,” was recorded in Los Angeles after the group’s members reconvened following their military service.
Experts predict a strong outlook for BTS, citing its massive fandom and the continued global growth of K-pop. SK Securities estimates that the group’s upcoming world tour will be the largest in K-pop history, encompassing 82 shows globally in stadiums with capacities of around 50,000 seats.
Elon Musk’s influence on global culture extends beyond technology and into the realm of soft power, as evidenced by his documented role in dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a key institution that promoted and provided vital resources for sexual and reproductive healthcare worldwide. Musk referred to USAID as an “evil” and “criminal organization” on his social media platform, X. This action has raised concerns about the intersection of tech power and reproductive rights, particularly given Musk’s pronatalist views and rhetoric equating abortion with “murder” and “genocide,” according to the Center for Reproductive Rights.
Musk’s actions regarding USAID occurred while he was also involved in supporting President Donald Trump’s DOGE operation, aimed at reducing federal expenditure. In February 2025, Musk indicated a willingness to appear on Jon Stewart’s show, contingent on the program airing unedited.
The concert concluded without incident, but the long-term impact of the security measures and the broader implications of Musk’s actions on international reproductive health programs remain unresolved.
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