BTS Returns: What to Expect from Their Historic ‘ARIRANG’ Concert on March 21

BTS / Photo=DB

[Sports Today reporter Kim Tae-hyung] President Lee Jae-myung said he is taking comprehensive precautions ahead of the group BTS’s concert at Gwanghwamun.

On the 18th, the president posted on X (formerly Twitter), \”On Saturday, March 21, BTS, one of Korea’s proudest artists, will perform at Gwanghwamun Square. I hope this event, themed ‘Arirang,’ will be a meaningful occasion to share our beautiful cultural heritage and the appeal of K-culture.\”

He added that the government is coordinating with relevant ministries, local authorities, the police and fire services to prepare thoroughly for the event. \”We are meticulously planning every procedure — from traffic and crowd control before and after the concert to emergency response measures,\” he wrote.

The president asked citizens to behave considerately and maintain order, expressing confidence that the public will show mature civic responsibility. He urged concertgoers to follow instructions from on-site safety personnel and to report scalping that undermines market order. He said he hopes the performance will reaffirm Korea’s cultural influence and become a memorable moment for audiences worldwide.

Meanwhile, BTS will release their first full-group album in three years and nine months, the fifth studio album ARIRANG, at 1 p.m. on the 20th. ARIRANG deals with universal emotions — identity, longing and deep love — and comprises 14 tracks.

The day after the album drop, on the 21st at 8 p.m., BTS will stage \”BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE｜ARIRANG\” around Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Netflix will livestream the performance to 190 countries and territories.

On the 18th, the government announced it would raise the terror alert level for the Jongno and Jung districts from \”interest\” to \”caution\” from 0:00 on the 19th until 24:00 on the 21st. Officials said the move follows Prime Minister Kim Min-seok’s directive to strengthen safety measures and bolster counterterrorism efforts.

Authorities said they will promptly implement response protocols for each alert level, step up surveillance and patrols at major event venues and heavily used facilities, and reinforce joint response systems among relevant agencies to ensure rapid action if problems arise.

[Sports Today reporter Kim Tae-hyung ent@stoo.com]
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