Fans with Army membership, merchandise purchase record on Weverse eligible to enter ticket lottery
BTS has revealed the ticketing details for their highly anticipated comeback performance at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, marking the group’s first live appearance in over three years. This announcement has sparked excitement among ARMY worldwide.
On Monday, Big Hit Music announced via the global fan platform Weverse that “BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang” will take place at 8 p.m. on March 21st. The seven-member group is set to perform fan-favorite tracks as well as new songs from their upcoming fifth album, “Arirang,” scheduled for release a day prior on March 20th.
The concert will be free of charge and open to the public, with two primary ticket options available: general tickets obtainable online and a special fan lottery.
General admission ticket sales will commence on Nol Ticket at 8 p.m. on February 23rd. Detailed information regarding the general ticket process is expected to be announced on the platform at 12 p.m. on February 20th.
Meanwhile, the fan lottery tickets will be exclusively available to members of the Army fan club on Weverse. Furthermore, fans who purchase select BTS merchandise through the Weverse Global shop will automatically be entered into the lottery.
The lottery is scheduled to run for three days, starting from 11 a.m. on Tuesday and concluding at 11:59 p.m. on Friday. Specific details about the lottery, including the qualifying merchandise for entry, will also be announced at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
Many fans are eagerly anticipating the Gwanghwamun show, as it signifies BTS’s first live performance since the members’ military enlistment.
However, the lottery system has elicited mixed reactions from the fanbase. Some have lauded BTS for offering the concert for free and for implementing strict lottery standards aimed at ensuring that “only real fans” have the opportunity to attend. Others have criticized the approach, labeling it as “a free show in disguise” and accusing the organizers of incentivizing fans to purchase more merchandise to enhance their chances of winning tickets.
“I think it’s unfair that regular people can attend for free, but actual fans have to buy a product just to enter a lottery,” a BTS fan, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Korea Herald. “We already paid ($17) for the Army membership – asking us to pay more on top of that is basically the same as treating fans like an ATM machine.”
The upcoming concert is expected to host approximately 34,000 attendees. In addition to the live event, the concert will be livestreamed globally on Netflix, marking the platform’s inaugural live broadcast of a single artist’s performance. The stream will be accessible in over 190 countries and is projected to attract over 50 million viewers.
“BTS The City: Arirang Seoul” will also be launched from March 20th to April 12th. This city-wide event will showcase immersive media installations and pop-up experiences across Seoul, seamlessly blending BTS’s music with the city’s vibrant landscape. It’s a must-see for any ARMY visiting Seoul!
