BTS 2.0 begins as Gwanghwamun turns into global stage

Mar 23, 2026, 09:49 am

		0
BTS held a free comeback concert, “BTS Comeback Live: Arirang,” at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on March 21. /Joint Press Corps

BTS marked the beginning of a new chapter—dubbed “BTS 2.0”—with a large-scale comeback performance at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on March 21, drawing tens of thousands of fans and global attention.

“We are so happy to be back. ‘BTS 2.0’ has just begun,” said J-Hope.

“No matter what happens, we promise to keep swimming together. Today is only the beginning,” said RM.

The group reunited as a full lineup after three years and nine months, performing for about an hour in front of roughly 44,000 fans (Seoul city estimate), while agency estimates put attendance at over 100,000.

Jin said, “I had many worries before standing here, but I am grateful and happy to see you again.”

Suga added, “It is truly an honor to perform at Gwanghwamun, the most historic place in Korea,” explaining that the album Arirang reflects the group’s identity.

RM explained the album’s direction, saying it aims to “listen more closely to our own voices and honestly express even our worries, anxieties, and wandering.”

		0
BTS held their comeback concert “BTS Comeback Live: Arirang” at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno District, Seoul, on March 21. /Joint Press Corps

During the concert, BTS performed new tracks from their fifth full-length album Arirang, including “Swim,” “Body to Body,” “Hooligan,” and “2.0.” A highlight came when performers from the National Gugak Center joined the stage, blending the traditional Korean folk song “Arirang” into a live performance.

Global hits such as “Butter” and “Dynamite” also energized the crowd, as Gwanghwamun Square turned into a sea of purple light from ARMY light sticks.

The concert was streamed live on Netflix to its global subscriber base of around 300 million, bringing Korean cultural landmarks such as Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung Palace to audiences worldwide.

Cultural critic Kim Heon-sik said the choice of venue added deeper meaning. “Gwanghwamun itself carries cultural significance at a time when global interest in traditional heritage is rising,” he said, calling the event a clear example of K-pop expanding as a culture rooted in Korea.

Another critic, Park Song-a, described the moment as a turning point. “If the group’s rise to global success marked one phase, their reunion after military service signals the beginning of a new stage,” she said.

The comeback is already showing strong commercial impact. According to BigHit Music, the album Arirang sold 3.98 million copies on its first day, surpassing the group’s previous first-week record set by Map of the Soul: 7. On Spotify, all 14 tracks from the album entered the Daily Top Songs chart, with the title track “Swim” reaching No. 1. The album also topped iTunes charts in 88 countries.

Following the comeback, BTS will launch a world tour starting April in Goyang, performing more than 82 shows across 34 cities.

Experts expect BTS to once again play a leading role in revitalizing the global K-pop market.

#BTS #Arirang album #Gwanghwamun concert #BTS 2.0