BTS returns with mega concert & new album

2026-03-20 - 04:35

South Korea’s capital is bracing itself for the return of BTS. Some 260,000 people are expected to turn up on Saturday at Gwanghwamun Square, where the seven K-pop stars – RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook – will perform together for the first time since October 2022. Most of them will watch the giant screens outside because only about 22,000 people who managed to get the free tickets will enter the concert venue, a smaller area that has been cordoned off. Set against the backdrop of a 14th Century gateway to the royal palace, the band’s one-hour set will include songs from their long-awaited new album, Arirang, which is set to release on Friday afternoon. Millions around the world can watch the show on Netflix, which has struck a live-stream deal with BTS. BTS were at the peak of their fame when they had to enlist for mandatory military service, starting with Jin in 2022. Suga was the last to complete service in June last year, paving the way for a full-group comeback. Their 82-date world tour across more than 30 cities, from Singapore and Tokyo to Munich and Los Angeles, begins next month. (Excerpts : BBC News)