▲ 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)

(2nd LD) BTS concert-security

(2nd LD) Security heightened at Gwanghwamun Square as fans gather for BTS comeback concert

(ATTN: RECASTS lead; UPDATES throughout with details)

By Chae Yun-hwan

SEOUL, March 21 (Yonhap) -- A heavy police presence blanketed downtown Seoul on Saturday as tens of thousands gathered ahead of BTS' long-awaited comeback concert.

The K-pop septet will perform at Gwanghwamun Square at 8 p.m. 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.

As of noon, about 22,000 to 24,000 people had gathered around Gwanghwamun and the nearby Deoksu Palace, up 91.9 percent from three hours earlier, according to the Seoul city government.

Officials expect the site to start becoming crowded from 2 p.m.

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.

Police commandos were seen inspecting the concert's main stage, while various safety personnel were stationed across the area.

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.

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

(END)

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