BTS Comeback Show, Seoul's Red Wave

Global fandom ARMY is protesting after the Seoul Metropolitan Government decided to illuminate major landmarks in red ahead of BTS's comeback performance.

In anticipation of BTS's new album release concert on the 21st, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to light up major landmarks across Seoul, including Namsan Seoul Tower and Lotte World Tower, in red. This decision was made at the request of HYBE, as red is the concept color for BTS's new album 'Arirang.' An official from the Seoul Metropolitan Government explained, "It will look as if the entire city has become a giant concert stage."

However, fans are criticizing the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stating, "BTS and ARMY's symbolic color is forever purple," and accusing the city of arbitrarily changing the symbolic color and attempting to use the artist as a political tool. Fans are concerned that the red color could be mistaken for the color representing a specific political party, and they are continuing their protest movement using hashtags such as '#BangtanIsPurple' and '#BTSisPurple.'

Some foreign media outlets have also reported on the issue, stating, "Netizens are protesting, suspecting that the Seoul mayor is politically exploiting BTS's comeback." This has raised concerns that BTS's large-scale event could escalate into a political color controversy.

In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government stated, "The decision to set the color of the Seoul Welcome Light for BTS's Gwanghwamun comeback as red, instead of BTS's symbolic color purple, was made at the request of the organizer, HYBE."