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| yna@yna.co.kr 2026-03-21 20:22:55
SEOUL, March 21 (Yonhap) -- The full-group comeback performance by BTS kicked off at 8 p.m. on Saturday at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.
Fans of all ages and nationalities—including the fandom “ARMY,” many of whom had been holding prime spots since early morning—erupted in cheers as all seven members appeared on stage.
Gwanghwamun was awash in purple, BTS’s signature color, as fans waved their light sticks. The square resembled one massive concert venue, with even those far from the stage following the performance on large screens installed on buildings or on their smartphones.
According to the Seoul city government, about 40,000 to 42,000 people had gathered around Gwanghwamun and nearby Deoksugung as of 8 p.m., a crowd level classified as “busy.” Police estimates were similar.
The official seating area at the square accommodated 22,000 people, divided into Zone A (standing), Zone B (reserved seating), and Zone C (additional seating), while others watched from surrounding areas.
Foreign fans dressed in hanbok were also spotted both inside and outside the venue. Many attendees smiled as they captured the moment on their phones, while some outside the venue were seen wiping away tears of emotion.
Although police had initially expected up to 260,000 people from Gwanghwamun to Sungnyemun, the turnout fell short of that projection. Still, the dense crowd caused disruptions, with fans sitting or standing in passageways.
As the concert time approached and congestion increased, police repeatedly shouted “Move! Move!” to manage the crowd. The venue was divided into four zones—core, hot, warm, and cold—with access to the “hot zone,” where the stage was visible, to be restricted once it reached 100,000 people.
Around 15,000 personnel—including police, firefighters, and public officials—were deployed amid concerns over safety, including potential terror threats due to the large number of international visitors and global tensions.
Entry to Gwanghwamun Square was restricted to 31 gates equipped with metal detectors, with police special forces stationed inside. Many gates were closed as crowds surged, with officers redirecting people elsewhere.
Fans without tickets searched for vantage points around the square, bringing newspapers or folding chairs, while competition for benches intensified. Some who briefly left their spots returned to find them taken.
Nearby areas such as Jonggak Station were also packed, with long lines forming at security checkpoints. Confiscated items—including scissors and lighters—were seen near detectors, and minor incidents occurred, such as a chef carrying a kitchen knife being stopped.
Certain items, including newspapers such as special BTS editions, were banned in standing zones due to fire hazard concerns, sparking some protests.
Access to 31 nearby buildings was restricted to prevent unauthorized viewing or accidents, leading institutions like the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History to temporarily close and the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts to cancel events.
Traffic controls were also intensified. Major roads including Sejong-daero had been fully closed since the previous night, with several others shut until 11 p.m. Subway services at nearby stations—Gwanghwamun (Line 5), City Hall (Lines 1 and 2), and Gyeongbokgung (Line 3)—were scheduled to resume after 10 p.m.
The concert area was effectively turned into a fortress with triple-layered barricades and police bus walls to prevent vehicle-based attacks, while a tightly secured “vacuum zone” surrounded the stage to ensure safety.
[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]