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| yna@yna.co.kr 2026-02-12 09:02:14
SEOUL, Feb. 12 (Yonhap) -- BTS will walk the king’s ceremonial path at Gyeongbok Palace and head toward Gwanghwamun Square for a comeback performance drawing global attention, while BLACKPINK will introduce Korea’s cultural heritage in their own voices and bathe the National Museum of Korea in pink.
Global K-pop stars such as BTS and BLACKPINK have stepped forward as ambassadors promoting Korea’s traditional cultural heritage to audiences around the world.
According to the music industry on Thursday, BLACKPINK will launch a large-scale collaboration project with the National Museum of Korea from Feb. 26 through March 8 to mark the release of its new mini-album "DEADLINE."
BLACKPINK is reportedly the first K-pop act to officially collaborate on a large scale with the national museum. The project expands the group’s global influence — built across music, fashion and advertising — into the realm of Korea’s cultural heritage.
Members of BLACKPINK will participate in audio guide recordings for eight of the museum’s signature artifacts, allowing visitors to hear explanations of Korea’s 대표 museum relics in the voices of K-pop idols.
To commemorate the collaboration, the exterior of the National Museum of Korea will be illuminated in pink, the color symbolizing BLACKPINK.
Beginning Feb. 26, one day ahead of the album’s release, a listening session previewing tracks from the new album will be held in front of the Stele of King Gwanggaeto the Great along the museum’s main lobby corridor, known as the Path of History.
With BLACKPINK releasing its first album in three years and five months amid worldwide anticipation, many fans are expected to flock to the museum to hear the music in advance.
BTS, set to return with its fifth full-length album "ARIRANG" next month, has chosen Gwanghwamun Square — often described as the heart of South Korea — as the venue for its large-scale comeback performance on March 21.
The group is considering a plan to start inside Gyeongbok Palace, pass through Gwanghwamun Gate and the Woldae platform, and perform on a stage installed at the northern end of Gwanghwamun Square. It remains under discussion whether the opening performance along that route will take place live on the day of the event or be pre-recorded.
BigHit Music said the symbolic meaning of the word "Arirang" was a key reason for choosing a venue that represents Korea.
BTS previously staged performances of "IDOL" in front of Geunjeongjeon Hall at Gyeongbok Palace and "Mikrokosmos" at Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in 2020.
Although the comeback performance is still more than a month away, fans known as ARMY have already shown strong interest in Gyeongbok Palace and Gwanghwamun on social media.
One fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter, urging others to remember BTS’ "IDOL" performance at Gyeongbok Palace in outfits inspired by black hanbok.
Another overseas fan posted photos taken in front of Gyeongbok Palace, writing, “I remember taking photos at Gyeongbok Palace and Gwanghwamun Square. BTS will perform right here on March 21.”
Given BTS’ status as a leading force of the K-pop wave, police estimate that as many as 260,000 people could gather at Gwanghwamun Square and surrounding areas.
The performance will also be livestreamed via Netflix to more than 190 countries, allowing viewers worldwide to watch BTS’ performance alongside the scenery of Gyeongbok Palace and Gwanghwamun in real time.
Pop culture critic Jung Deok-hyun said that while the commercial impact of BTS and BLACKPINK’s comebacks will be significant, their influence in spreading Korean traditional culture is equally powerful.
“Promoting cultural heritage through conventional advertising can sometimes feel forced, but when fans see their favorite stars naturally showcasing it, the impact and ripple effects are enormous,” Jung said. “We are living in an era where everything an artist does becomes part of K-culture.”
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