BTS Seoul Concert Livestream: 18.4 Million Viewers Tune In

A free comeback concert in Seoul by K-pop supergroup BTS on Saturday drew an estimated 104,000 fans, though crowd-tracking data indicated a lower turnout during portions of the performance, sparking a drop in the band’s agency’s stock price.

The concert, the group’s first in more than three years following a hiatus for mandatory military service, transformed the historic center of Seoul into a “sea of purple,” according to the BBC. Fans displayed the band’s signature color through clothing, accessories, and drone displays over the Han River. The event was livestreamed, attracting 18.4 million viewers globally.

Despite the enthusiastic reception from fans – some of whom traveled from the United States to attend – the concert’s attendance figures fell short of expectations. According to data from the Seoul government, approximately 60,000 people were present in the concert area halfway through the hour-long performance. This discrepancy prompted a decline in shares of HYBE, BTS’s agency, on Monday, March 23rd, according to the Recent York Times.

The concert featured a performance of “Number 29,” a track from BTS’s new album, Arirang, which began with a resonant toll of the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok. Fans chanted the names of the seven members – RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook – as they took the stage.

Fans expressed the significance of the concert after a four-year break. Veronica and Amanda, who flew from the US, described the band as “everything” to them and shared how the anticipation of the comeback had helped them connect with other members of the “Army,” the group’s fanbase. The break had been a period of longing for the band’s return, they added.

The concert was free to the public and took place in Gwanghwamun Square. A banner proclaiming “Welcome back BTS” was displayed at a nearby 7-Eleven, reflecting the widespread anticipation for the group’s return.