BTS has created a moment etched in music history with their comeback stage at Gwanghwamun Square. More than just a new song release, it was a platform to imprint the group’s identity and Korean sentiment on the world.
On March 21st at 8 PM KST, BTS held ‘BTS COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG’ at Gwanghwamun Square. This performance celebrated the release of their 5th full-length album, ‘ARIRANG,’ which dropped on March 20th. The venue was packed with approximately 104,000 spectators.
This performance was more than just a comeback stage; it was a statement. ‘ARIRANG’ encapsulates the group’s identity and the emotions accumulated throughout their journey. By featuring Korea’s representative folk song in their album title and choosing the symbolic Gwanghwamun Square as the stage, BTS aimed to connect with their roots. The stage, designed like a frame, captured Gwanghwamun and the seven members in one shot, creating a historical moment.
The presentation that blended with cultural heritage also drew attention. The show began with drone shots that passed over Bukhansan Mountain and illuminated Gyeongbokgung Palace. Then, the panoramic view of Gwanghwamun Square captivated the audience. Media art using the exterior walls of Gwanghwamun harmoniously blended the city, cultural heritage, and performance, creating seamless convergence. The production, where tradition and modernity coexisted, elicited constant admiration. The performance was broadcast live through Netflix, playing a role in spreading not only BTS’s performance but also Korean culture and sentiment to the world.
BTS opened the show with a track from their new album, ‘Body to Body’. This song, which incorporated the melody of the folk song ‘Arirang,’ featured performers and singers from the National Gugak Center. They then showcased new songs such as ‘Hooligan’, ‘2.0’, ‘Aliens’, ‘FYA’, ‘Like Animals’, and ‘Normal’. The highlight was the title track, ‘SWIM.’ The media art that depicted water flowing along Gwanghwamun visualized the song’s message of continuing to swim through the waves of life.
BTS’s signature songs, such as ‘Butter,’ ‘MIC Drop,’ and ‘Dynamite,’ further elevated the atmosphere. The final song, ‘Mikrokosmos,’ left a deep impression with a presentation that expanded starlight throughout Gwanghwamun and showcased the Big Dipper. For about an hour, the official light stick, ‘ARMY Bomb,’ was linked to the stage production, flooding the square with a sea of light.
On this day, BTS expressed their overwhelming emotions about their comeback as a complete group after about 3 years and 9 months. They stated, “We are overwhelmed to be able to meet again like this. We are happy to be together as seven. We are grateful to the ARMY who filled Gwanghwamun Square, the city of Seoul for allowing us to perform here, the police officers who worked hard on-site, and numerous related parties.”
After the performance, they once again expressed their sincerity through the global superfan platform, Weverse. “We faced you in the meaningful space of Gwanghwamun. The moment we heard the cheers filling the square, we felt overwhelmed, thinking, ‘We have finally returned.'” They added that this performance was possible because of the hard work of those who ensured safety, the warm understanding of the citizens, and the unwavering love of ARMY.
