BTS Free Concert Expected to Draw 200,000... Seoul Mobilizes for First-Ever Solo Show at Gwanghwamun Square

Conditional Permit Granted... Final Plan to Be Confirmed Next Month
Seoul City Prepares Measures for Accommodation, Transportation, and Safety

BTS has chosen Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul as the stage for their comeback after about 3 years and 9 months, prompting the Seoul Metropolitan Government and related agencies to take action.

AP Yonhap News

On the 25th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Metro announced that BTS’s agency HYBE had submitted an application to use Gwanghwamun Square to hold the 'BTS 2026 Comeback Show @ Seoul' for approximately 18,000 people on March 21.

The city had already granted conditional approval for the event during the first Gwanghwamun Square Advisory Committee meeting of 2026, held on the 22nd. The conditions include measures to prevent overlap in exit times between performers and the audience, as well as minimizing traffic congestion.

The stairs of Seoul Sejong Center decorated for the promotion of the group BTS, returning with their 5th full-length album this March. Photo by Yonhap News

This will be the first time a single artist holds an exclusive concert at Gwanghwamun Square. As the concert is free and given the global scale of BTS’s fandom, there are projections that up to 200,000 people could gather on the day of the event. As a result, comprehensive measures are being prepared, including personnel deployment, traffic control, and inspections of the hospitality industry. The final safety management plan will be confirmed at the Safety Management Committee meeting scheduled for February 24, which will be attended by relevant agencies such as the police and fire departments.

Separately from the Gwanghwamun concert, HYBE has also proposed to the city the possibility of holding a side event for about 30,000 people at Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall. Seoul Plaza may host experiential programs for BTS’s fandom, ARMY, as well as foreign tourists. However, the city is still reviewing the feasibility due to restrictions such as the lawn protection period at Seoul Plaza.

Measures are also being taken to prevent a surge in accommodation prices in advance. Jongno-gu, where Gwanghwamun Square is located, and neighboring Jung-gu will form joint inspection teams with the city this week to check for compliance with posted pricing. Administrative action will be taken if any violations are found. An official from Jung-gu Office stated, "We also plan to monitor prices on online reservation platforms."

In terms of transportation, Seoul Metro will deploy on-site personnel at nearby subway stations such as Gwanghwamun, City Hall, Seodaemun, Gyeongbokgung, and Jonggak, and is considering flexible train operations based on real-time congestion levels. If congestion becomes severe, measures such as skipping stops at affected stations or rerouting city buses will also be considered.