Kathmandu- South Korea’s capital, Seoul, was painted purple on Saturday. The BTS signature color ‘Purple’ dominated everything from large building screens and billboards to masks and T-shirts.

The world’s biggest K-pop band, BTS, which took a break of over three years due to mandatory military service, made a spectacular comeback to the stage from Seoul’s historic Gwanghwamun Square.

Banners reading ‘Welcome Back BTS’ filled the city, and fans flocked to Seoul from all over the world to see their beloved stars. Thousands of fans, like Veronica and Amanda from the United States, welcomed the band wearing Hanbok, traditional Korean attire in purple.

Music critic Lim Hee-yoon compared BTS to The Beatles, stating that they have instilled intense national pride in South Koreans. This comeback has become not just a concert, but a grand celebration to re-establish the legacy of BTS and Korean culture worldwide.

The screams of fans echoed through Seoul as all seven members-RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook- appeared on stage together after a long wait.

The concert began with the track ‘No. 29’ from BTS’s new album ‘Arirang,’ which utilized the deep melody of Korea’s historic Divine Bell of King Seongdeok.
he band’s leader, RM, addressed the fans first in Korean and then in English, saying, ‘We are back.’ They mesmerized the audience with their new song ‘Body to Body’ along with their famous hits like ‘Butter,’ ‘Mic Drop,’ ‘Dynamite,’ and ‘Mikrokosmos.’

The special stage, set against the backdrop of the historic Gwanghwamun Gate, was inspired by the South Korean flag. Suga stated that it was an honor to perform at Korea’s most historic location.

He informed that the new album was named ‘Arirang’ to reflect their identity, and this location was specifically chosen. Although officials expected 250,000 attendees, thousands of fans were present.

However, there has been some criticism regarding this grand event. Questions have been raised about the security arrangements and the use of resources, citing the deployment of thousands of police and firefighters for a single event at the city’s main public space.

Music critic Jung Min-jae questioned the government’s standards, suggesting that allowing concerts that shut down the city could lead other artists to make similar demands in the future. However, the government argued that this honor was bestowed due to the contribution BTS has made to South Korea’s ‘soft power’ and global branding.

Having debuted in 2013, the band has topped the Billboard charts and exerted its influence by visiting the United Nations and the White House.