BTS Concert, Record-Breaking Reaction

The group BTS made a comeback as a full group for the first time in 3 years and 9 months, holding a commemorative performance titled 'BTS Comeback Live: Arirang' at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. The concert garnered significant attention for utilizing Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Gwanghwamun area as its stage, marking the first time K-pop has transformed Gwanghwamun into a complete stage. The members expressed a mix of emotions, including honor, pressure, and fear, about performing in such a historic location.

The performance kicked off with the opening song 'Body to Body,' followed by stages for new songs like 'Hooligan' and '2.0,' interspersed with sincere remarks from the members. Jin expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for coming," while Jimin shared, "We finally meet. I'm grateful that the seven of us can meet again." Suga stated, "It's a great honor to perform at Gwanghwamun, a historic site. We chose Arirang as the title for this album because we wanted to capture our identity, and we ended up performing here in Gwanghwamun." V remarked, "It's a new feeling to make a comeback in such a special place," and J-Hope said in English, "We waited for a very long time, and thank you for waiting." RM and Jungkook also expressed their thanks, saying, "It was a long journey, but we eventually arrived here."

Following this, BTS delivered explosive fan responses with performances of their hit songs 'Butter' and 'MIC DROP.' During the second talk segment, the members candidly discussed the pressure and fear surrounding their comeback, as well as the joy they feel performing in front of their fans. RM explained the new album, saying, "We thought about what kind of music is truly 'us.' We wanted to honestly capture who we are and how we come together, so we had many conversations." Suga added, "With this album, we wanted to show our honest selves as the seven of us. We tried to show a more mature and grown BTS than before."

After performing 'Aliens' and 'FYA' from their fifth full album 'Arirang,' the members openly shared their concerns and anxieties about the album. J-Hope admitted, "We worried that we might be a little forgotten," and Suga said, "I'm still anxious, but I believe these feelings are also a part of who we are." RM revealed, "Our goal for this album was to listen to our own voices and freely express our anxieties and wanderings." Jimin shared, "We are not special people. We, like you all, are scared every time, and we were scared while preparing for this performance. However, I believe that by embracing those feelings and 'keeping swimming,' we will find answers someday."

The title track 'SWIM' was then unveiled for the first time, followed by performances of 'Like Animals' and 'NORMAL.' In their final talk segment, BTS conveyed their gratitude, saying, "Thank you once again. We will continue to visit you often with various sides of ourselves." They also expressed their affection for their fans, stating, "We are so happy to be back. Every moment is thanks to you. Thank you for waiting." The concert concluded with performances of their Billboard-topping hits 'Dynamite' and 'Telepathy.' The concert was broadcast live to 190 countries worldwide via Netflix, and BTS is scheduled to embark on a large-scale world tour starting in April.