The group BTS stood on stage as a full unit for the first time in three and a half years. Overcoming a lengthy hiatus due to military service, the members appeared at Seoul's symbolic Gwanghwamun Square, exploding with the energy they had built up during their time away.

A Grand Opening at the Heart of Seoul

On the 21st, BTS held the 'BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG'. The performance opened grandly with drone shots sweeping over Bukaksan Mountain and Gyeongbokgung Palace. The scale of the event was immediately clear as the cameras captured the massive crowd at Gwanghwamun Square. When 50 dancers lined up at the Woldae (elevated stone platform) split to either side, BTS finally appeared, signaling the start of the festival.

They opened the set with "Body to Body," the first track of their new album, which features a sample of the traditional Korean folk song Arirang. Their performance was described as having an unprecedented level of intensity. As this was their first full-group stage in 3 years and 5 months-following the Busan concert in October 2022-they unleashed their stored-up energy all at once, following up with back-to-back performances of "Hooligan" and "2.0."

Heartfelt Messages from the Members

After the opening tracks, the members shared their feelings about the comeback:

  • Jin: "I am so grateful to meet you again after the Busan concert. I had many worries leading up to this, but right now I am so happy."
  • Jimin: "I finally met ARMY. I'm emotional and grateful that the seven of us can greet you again."
  • Suga: "It is an honor to perform at Gwanghwamun, the most historical space in Korea."
  • V: "It feels surreal to perform in such a special place. My sincere thanks to the ARMY here and around the world watching."
  • J-Hope: "I still can't believe the seven of us are on this stage together."
  • Jungkook: "We prepared something special for this stage."
  • RM: "I'll pour everything out today. It's been a long journey, but we finally made it."

Reflecting on Growth and "Swimming" Forward

The setlist transitioned from hits like "Butter" and "MIC Drop" to new tracks including "Aliens," "FYA," "SWIM," "Like Animals," and "Normal."

During the introductions for the title track "SWIM," the members got candid. J-Hope admitted, "I worried that we might be forgotten," while Suga noted he "constantly thought about what to protect and what to change." RM added, "I realized the answer was inside, not outside. The goal of this album was to listen to our own voices and honestly capture those worries and moments of wandering."

Jimin concluded with a moving sentiment: "We aren't special people, as you likely know. We are always afraid, but I believe that if we 'keep swimming' with those feelings, we will find the answer."

A Masterclass in Crowd Control and Fan Culture

According to HYBE estimates, 104,000 people gathered to witness the comeback, including 22,000 official ticket holders. While authorities initially prepared for a crowd of up to 260,000, the event proceeded without any safety accidents. After the show, fans exited in an orderly fashion, and ARMY volunteer groups stayed behind to clean up trash, once again displaying exemplary fan culture.

What's Next for BTS: The group will depart immediately for New York for the 'Spotify X BTS: SWIM SIDE' event on the 23rd (local time). Their 'ARIRANG' World Tour is set to kick off on April 9 at the Goyang Total Stadium.

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