SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - BTS will headline a 60-minute performance at Gwanghwamun Plaza next month, featuring a setlist that balances new material with the group's global hits.
The free concert, titled "BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG," is scheduled for Mar. 21 and marks the first time the group will perform tracks from its fifth studio album in nearly four years. HYBE, the agency for BTS, confirmed Saturday that it is finalizing a program to showcase songs from the new album, Arirang, alongside established fan favorites.
Agency officials said the one-hour duration was chosen to balance the scale of the production with the logistical demands of a major urban center. The decision aims to prioritize public safety and minimize disruption in the heart of the capital.
"The performance time is a matter decided by the company, and we have decided to operate for an appropriate performance time that can be conducted safely and smoothly," HYBE said.
The agency added that the Gwanghwamun event is a "performance in a special environment conducted in an outdoor public place, unlike a general concert hall," and that the duration was determined after considering stage operations, visitor safety, and site control plans.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government noted that the composition and timing of the performance remain under the sole discretion of HYBE.
Demand for the event has already proven historic. The 13,000 reserved seats were claimed instantly when ticketing opened on February 23, with online queues peaking at 100,000 people. Police estimates suggest the actual crowd on the day of the event could reach 260,000 people, potentially filling the corridor from the plaza down to Sungnyemun.
To accommodate the expected turnout, organizers are exploring the installation of large screens in the vicinity of Seoul Plaza. The event will also necessitate the closure of Gyeongbokgung Palace, which is set to serve as a backdrop for the global broadcast on Netflix.
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