BTS Comeback Live: Arirang – What You Need to Know About the Free Concert in Gwanghwamun!

BTS is set to draw over 15,000 fans to Gwanghwamun Square during their free comeback concert next month, industry sources revealed on Wednesday.

The event organizers are in talks with Seoul city officials to accommodate approximately 15,000 attendees in both standing and seated areas for the highly anticipated ‘BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG’ on March 21.

The septet plans to kick off their performance with a grand procession from Gyeongbokgung Palace, passing through the iconic Gwanghwamun Gate and Woldae, before taking the stage at the northern end of Gwanghwamun Square.

This free concert will take place the day after BTS drops their fifth studio album, ‘ARIRANG,’ marking a significant moment in the group’s career.

The K-pop sensation announced on their fan platform Weverse that they’re offering 2,000 standing area tickets to fans who pre-order the album by March 13. A seating chart reveals a T-shaped stage with an extended catwalk, surrounded by an immersive standing zone.

Additional designated seating will be arranged behind the standing area, stretching along Gwanghwamun Square.

While the exact capacity is still being finalized, sources suggest a total of around 15,000 spots, including the 2,000 standing places. Fans can snag tickets for the designated seats starting March 23 through NOL Ticket.

In a bid to accommodate even more ARMY members, organizers are considering setting up a massive screen near Seoul Plaza for overflow viewing.

City officials anticipate crowds of up to 230,000 near the stage and Deoksugung Palace’s Daehanmun Gate, potentially swelling to 260,000 around Sungnyemun Gate. In a groundbreaking move, Netflix will livestream the event to over 190 countries, marking the first time a major Korean event receives such global coverage on the platform.

Meanwhile, Seoul city officials are working overtime to ensure the event’s success.

As the official sponsor, the city is conducting thorough safety checks on elevators in public facilities around Gwanghwamun Square and cracking down on price gouging at tourist hotspots.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon recently chaired a meeting to address logistical challenges and hammer out a comprehensive strategy for the BTS comeback extravaganza.

The city is beefing up its safety protocols through expert consultations and will monitor crowd density in real-time using urban data and CCTV feeds. Officials have also been verifying that nearby hotels stick to advertised rates and plan to deploy undercover inspectors to popular tourist areas to ensure fair pricing for the influx of international visitors.