Fans head home after BTS concert , foreign ARMY flock to hotspots

▲ K-pop fans head home after attending BTS’ concert, held on the night of March 21, 2026. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, March 21 (Yonhap) -- As the comeback concert by BTS wrapped up around 9 p.m. on Saturday, the thousands of “ARMY” fans who had filled Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul began to head home one by one.

Although concerns had been raised about potential chaos during the mass departure, the event concluded smoothly as fans followed police guidance and exited in an orderly manner.

Immediately after the concert, fans received safety text messages from the Seoul city government on their phones, instructing them to leave in phases by zone and to follow directions from police and staff. Messages were also provided in English for international attendees.

▲ Some ARMY members, after attending BTS’ concert, head to areas like Itaewon to continue the night’s festivities. The photo shows a Yongsan District official inspecting crowd conditions in Itaewon on the night of March 21, 2026. (Yonhap)

Police officers and event staff stationed throughout Gwanghwamun intersections and nearby streets continuously blew whistles and guided fans to keep to the right. Fans complied without major protests, moving calmly toward nearby subway stations and bus stops.

The relatively smooth dispersal was also aided by crowds spreading out beyond Gwanghwamun Square to nearby areas such as Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall.

▲ K-pop superband BTS performs at its comeback showcase held in Gwanghwamun

Jang Ju-young, 30, a resident of Suwon, said, “They guided us well and let us out in sequence, so I was able to get home after waiting just 30 minutes.”

At around 10 p.m.—an hour after the concert ended—subway services resumed at Gwanghwamun Station, City Hall Station, and Gyeongbokgung Station, drawing large numbers of fans hoping to catch the first trains.

At Gwanghwamun Station platforms, Seoul Metro staff waved light batons to help ensure safe boarding, while also assisting foreign visitors who had difficulty finding exits.

▲ K-pop superband BTS performs at its comeback showcase held in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on March 21, 2026. Press pool photo. (Yonhap)

Moon , 19, a Vietnamese student at Konkuk University, said, “I was going to take a bus, but it didn’t come, so I’ll take the subway instead. I’ve only been in Korea for three months and don’t have a part-time job yet, so I can’t afford a taxi.”

Kim Ye-jin, 20, who worked as event staff, added, “I tried to get a taxi but gave up because it seemed impossible. I was going to take a bus, but my legs hurt too much, so my friend’s parents are coming to pick me up.”

Meanwhile, many international ARMY members headed to popular nightlife districts such as Itaewon and Seongsu to continue the night’s excitement.

Police, fire authorities, and district offices had already begun patrolling Itaewon before the concert ended to prepare for any potential safety incidents.

Marnie, 18, a Chinese fan in her second year as ARMY, said near exit 2 of Itaewon Station, “I’m a bit tired after the concert, but I came because I heard there’s a lot of good food here. Jungkook, my favorite member, once had bulgogi here, so I wanted to come too,” she said with a smile.

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