BTS crowd builds in Gwanghwamun

Mar 21, 2026, 08:48 pm

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Fans queued to pass metal detectors near Jonggak Station before the BTS concert in central Seoul on March 21.

Crowds swelled ahead of BTS’ performance, and central Seoul began to fill with concertgoers from around 6 p.m. on March 21, with the area around Gwanghwamun seeing a sharp increase in foot traffic.

The standing section began admitting fans, and the crowd grew quickly as entry was set to close at 7 p.m. Seoul city officials estimated that between 30,000 and 32,000 people had gathered near Gwanghwamun and Deoksugung as of 6 p.m.

Police and Seoul city authorities deployed personnel early to manage the crowds across the Gwanghwamun area. From Seoul Station through Sungnyemun to Sejong-daero, long lines of people continued to move toward the venue, while staff along the sidewalks directed pedestrians to keep walking and maintain the flow. “Please keep moving. Do not stop,” safety personnel shouted as they worked to prevent congestion. Police officers also stepped in immediately when spectators began clustering on one side of the sidewalk, repeatedly calling out, “Move along. Keep moving.”

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Crowds gathered and lined up for security checks ahead of the BTS performance at Gwanghwamun in Seoul.

Large numbers of spectators gathered especially around Jonggak Station, the closest station to Gwanghwamun. Because concertgoers had to pass through metal detectors one by one, long lines formed along the sidewalks, with many waiting to enter the secured zone near the venue.

A total of about 15,500 personnel were deployed for the event, including around 7,000 police officers, about 3,700 staff from Seoul city, district offices and fire authorities, and 4,800 personnel from the organizers.

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