The seven members of the K-pop powerhouse, who are all South Koreans, will sing songs from their debut album in almost four years, “ARIRANG,” which is named after the most popular traditional folk song on the Korean Peninsula, at a free event that is anticipated to gather tens of thousands of fans. In response to inquiries from The Associated Press, Hybe Corp., the parent business of BTS’ management agency, stated that “ARIRANG” is an album that encapsulates the origin and essence of BTS and bears the message that they wish to express now. “We have chosen to host a performance at Gwanghwamun, a location that symbolizes Korea, in light of the symbolic meaning of the word ‘Arirang.”
Gwanghwamun Square is named after the huge main gate of nearby Gyeongbokgung
The massive main gate of neighboring Gyeongbokgung, a royal palace for Korea’s Joseon dynasty, which controlled the peninsula for more than 500 years until its fall in 1910, is the source of the name Gwanghwamun Square. The expansive area, which is in the center of Seoul, hosts artistic and cultural activities. It is home to enormous statues of two of Korea’s most revered leaders: navy admiral Yi Sun-shin, who repelled the Japanese invasion in the sixteenth century, and King Sejong, who created the Korean script in 1443. The square, which has seen large-scale protests throughout recent political upheavals, is also a representation of South Korea’s youthful, resilient democracy.
Protesters gathered in the square, calling for his ouster
Protesters gathered in the square to demand the removal of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol after martial law was imposed in late 2024, sparking the worst crisis for the nation’s democracy in decades. The hour-long Gwanghwamun concert, which will be livestreamed on Netflix worldwide, will reaffirm BTS’ identity as a group that expanded from Korea to the global stage, according to observers. Rallies combined politics and pop culture, with protesters waving colorful light sticks used at K-pop concerts and singing K-pop songs like Girls’ Generation’s “Into the New World.” Due to its members’ obligatory military service in South Korea, BTS had been on hiatus.
BTS most likely determined that appearing at a symbolic Korean site would be “most meaningful”
Cultural analyst Ha Jae-keun predicted that the BTS’s reunion concert would be successful wherever it takes place. However, he claimed that BTS, the top K-pop performers, probably decided that it would be “most meaningful” to appear at a symbolic Korean location. Pop culture analyst Jung Dukhyun stated that the choice of Gwanghwamun most likely represented a belief that Korean traditional culture and regional elements can resonate on a global scale, as demonstrated by the success of the Netflix phenomenon “KPop Demon Hunters,” which this week won the Oscars for best animated feature and best song for “Golden.”
President Lee Jae Myung called BTS “a proud artist of the Republic of Korea”
The event is expected to increase South Korea’s cultural influence abroad, according to officials. In order to avoid crowd-related mishaps, they also intend to implement comprehensive safety measures. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung referred to BTS as “a proud artist of the Republic of Korea” in a message posted on X on Wednesday. He also expressed hope that the concert will showcase “our beautiful cultural heritage and the charm of K-culture.” In addition to the roughly 20,000 fans who have tickets at the square, an estimated 240,000 people are anticipated to congregate in surrounding areas to watch the concert on temporary screens.
Some locals objected to what they perceived as BTS receiving special treatment and possible public annoyance. However, a lot of specialists claim that the concert has a significant public component. The band of the country is BTS. They now want to host a free public performance. Ha stated, “I think it would be very natural for the government to support it.”