Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul is steadily turning into a sprawling stage, with preparations intensifying on Thursday ahead of BTS’s comeback in nearly four years.

The band will release its fifth full-length album, “Arirang,” on Friday, just a day before the performance. The free hour-long concert, set to begin at Gwanghwamun Square at 8 p.m. on Saturday, will be livestreamed worldwide via Netflix.

“We’re also so excited to see you again,” the band’s leader RM wrote in Korean on the fan platform Weverse on Thursday. “As many people will be gathering, we ask that everyone enjoy the concert safely and responsibly. Please follow the guidance of on-site staff and safety personnel, and we look forward to seeing orderly conduct.”

Including the 22,000 ticket holders, as many as 260,000 people are expected to gather in the area.

Meanwhile, roads around Gwanghwamun Square will be closed in stages starting from Friday night. Major roads that will be affected include Sejong-daero, Sajik-ro and Saemunan-ro. Subway trains may pass through Gwanghwamun, City Hall and Gyeongbokgung stations without stopping, and these stations may even be temporarily closed to manage crowds and ensure public safety.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM JONG-HO [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]