Fans hail BTS comeback as emotional, long-awaited return

Record ID: 2367737

  • Title: Fans hail BTS comeback as emotional, long-awaited return
  • Date: 21st March 2026
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (MARCH 21, 2026) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) POLICE OFFICERS LINED UP FOR CONTROLLING CROWDS PEOPLE FILMING BTS LOGO ON SCREEN AS THEY WAVE BTS LIGHT STICK POLICE OFFICERS CONTROLLING STANDING CROWDS VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS GETTING OUT OF CONCERT VENUE ELECTRONIC DISPLAY BOARD READING (English): “BTS” (SOUNDBITE) (English) 41-YEAR-OLD BTS FAN FROM IND
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: BTS Gwanghwamun comeback concert fans music reaction
  • Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA 
  • City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA 
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Music
  • Reuters ID: LVA001621521032026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Fans of BTS described the group’s comeback performance as an emotional and long-awaited moment, as crowds began to disperse under tight police control in central Seoul on Saturday (March 21) night.
    The hour-long outdoor concert in Gwanghwamun Square was the official comeback for the group that helped make Korean pop music into a global phenomenon before going on hiatus in 2022 while members fulfilled mandatory military service.
    They returned with a new album on Friday (March 20) that their record label sold nearly 4 million copies in its first day, ahead of a global tour that starts next month, billed as the biggest in Kpop history.
    While there were only 22,000 tickets to the inner area to see Saturday's concert live, Seoul authorities had anticipated as many as 260,000 people would turn out to be part of the crowd outside. A whole section of the city was shut with barricades.
    In the end, most fans decided to stay away for now. The Yonhap News Agency, citing city government estimates, said 40,000-42,000 showed up. Fans, who call themselves the BTS ARMY, could watch the concert on Netflix instead, where it was streamed live to 190 countries.
    (Production: Hwawon lee, Yunji Ha, Heejung Jung)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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