▲ Crowds of people are gathered around Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on March 21, 2026, ahead of K-pop group BTS' comeback concert. (Yonhap)
▲ Police conduct security checks at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on March 21, 2026, ahead of K-pop group BTS' comeback concert. (Yonhap)
▲ Traffic is restricted near Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, where K-pop group BTS is scheduled to hold its comeback concert on March 21, 2026. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) BTS concert-security

(LEAD) Security heightened at Gwanghwamun Square as fans gather for BTS comeback concert

(ATTN: UPDATES with latest details throughout; CHANGES headline, lead, photos)

By Chae Yun-hwan

SEOUL, March 21 (Yonhap) -- A heavy police presence blanketed downtown Seoul on Saturday where hundreds of thousands are set to gather for BTS' long-awaited comeback concert.

The K-pop septet will perform at Gwanghwamun Square to mark its return after a four-year hiatus, with 260,000 people expected in an area stretching from the square to Sungnye Gate, over a kilometer away.

Security has been tightened as fans and visitors flock from around the world, with authorities planning to deploy around 15,000 safety management personnel, including some 6,700 police officers.

As part of safety measures, officials have set up a 200-meter-wide, 1.2-kilometer-long fenced crowd control zone, accessible through 31 entrances installed with metal detectors.

Fans and visitors began to gather in the area early in the morning, with about 8,000 to 8,500 people around Gwanghwamun and the nearby Deoksu Palace as of 7:25 a.m., according to the Seoul city government.

People were seen going through police security checks to enter the square. Police have said those without identification could be asked for their resident registration numbers or fingerprints.

Officials have also placed heavy focus on possible terror threats, with the terror alert for the area raised to the second-lowest level in a four-tier system. Police commandos will be mobilized to monitor such threats.

Police also restricted the release of firearms to licensed owners Saturday as a precautionary measure. South Korea requires all gun owners to store their weapons at local police stations.

Subway locker services at 17 stations across Seoul have also been shut down over terror concerns.

Rescue authorities will set up three medical stations near the concert area, while organizers will separately operate 11 medical booths.

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