On March 21, 2026, BTS made their long-awaited return to the stage with BTS: The Comeback Live | Arirang at Gwanghwamun square in Seoul, marking their first full-group performance in four years following their military service. Around 104,000 of fans filled the square for the free concert, eager to see BTS’s powerful stage presence, while the concert was  viewed by audiences in 190 countries via Netflix livestream.

The atmosphere was electric, filled with excitement, cheers, and beautiful moments as BTS performed classic hits and songs from their new album "Arirang." 

The concert was also attended by foreigners living in Korea, who shared their personal experiences of the event.

Vanessa Rivera is from Mexico, and has been an ARMY since 2018. She came to Korea last year to study the language at Hanyang University’s Language Institute, the university where most of the members graduated, with the goal of better understanding BTS’s lyrics, message, livestreams, and all kinds of related content.

Another attendee was Shashini Karunasena, an ARMY from Sri Lanka, who graduated in Civil Engineering from Yonsei University and has been living in Korea for almost six years.

Also, Anastasia Voinalovich from Russia was another fan present at the concert. Even a few days later, it’s still hard for her to believe that she was really at this concert and, like other ARMYs, became part of such a legendary moment. Anastasia became an ARMY in April 2022, just a couple of months before BTS announced their compelled pause from group activities. She remembers how many loud headlines there were back then about disbandment and hiatus, but she never once doubted that the group would come back to the fans as a full lineup. 

And now, this comeback era has brought us to a memorable reunion at Gwanghwamun Square, one of Korea’s most iconic locations.

Below are excerpts from email interviews on March 24-27 with them.

1. How well organized was the concert, and what impressed you the most?

Vanessa Rivera: The concert was incredibly well organized. To access not just the venue but even the surrounding area, everyone had to pass through a security checkpoint, and the space was divided into lanes and cordoned off. This helped prevent unnecessary crowding and kept everything flowing smoothly. Even people who were just passing through the area for other reasons had to go through the security checkpoint, even if they weren’t attending the concert.

As a raffle winner, I was given a check in time (1:00 PM) and then guided to the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, where we waited inside the theater before the concert started. Later, we were lined up according to our entrance numbers and escorted to our section at a very controlled pace to prevent any accidents or disorder. The staff closely monitored everything to make sure no one was pushing or misbehaving. I remember that, in the middle of the concert, one of the girls behind me started yelling, “please stop pushing,” and the staff responded immediately.

After the concert ended, we were asked to wait until all other sections had exited, so we were among the last to leave. While it took a bit longer, it allowed everyone to exit safely and in an orderly way. I watched the concert later on Netflix, and everything looked perfectly organized from above, despite the thousands of people who attended.

Given that there have been unfortunate crowd-related incidents in Korea in the past, it was clear that the staff put a lot of effort into ensuring everyone could enjoy the concert and return home safely. I understand there were safety concerns given that it was a public event, but the staff handled everything with great professionalism.

Shashini Karunasena: I believe in terms of concert organizing, I could see that the organizers have made a big effort managing the crowds, especially in terms of security than before. We went through two security checks, where they checked our bags twice when we enter first and when we later enter our assigned areas.  Given the large crowd and the possibility of unforeseen situations, I think it was handled very well, which made me feel more at ease. I was close to the stage, and I was impressed that it was checked twice with police dogs.

Anastasia Voinalovich: The organization of the concert was absolutely amazing. From the moment I stepped out of the subway station to the moment I reached my section near the stage, every step was clear and well-guided.

There was a huge number of staff, and they all did an incredible job, helping with any question. Many of them had "ENGLISH" badges, so it was easy to see who international ARMYs could approach for help. I have to admit, it gave me a really special sense of care. I’ve never had trouble using a translator or my basic Korean, but the fact that the organizers thought about the comfort of not only Korean ARMYs but international fans as well was especially meaningful.

I also want to mention the waiting area before entering the square. It was the beautiful hall of the Sejong Center, where all of us could wait comfortably at the assigned seats. That detail made the whole experience even more enjoyable.

2. What was your experience attending the BTS concert in Seoul?

Vanessa Rivera: My experience was truly one of a kind. We were assigned random entrance numbers on the spot, and I got number 7, which meant I was going to get barricade. Since 7 is also BTS’s special number (the number of members) it made the moment feel even more meaningful.

At first, I was a bit worried because we had to wait standing for more than three hours, but time passed quickly, and the moment BTS stepped on stage, I forgot about everything else. I was also fortunate enough to be filmed and appeared twice in BTS: The Comeback Live | Arirang on Netflix, which made the experience even more unforgettable. 

Shashini Karunasena: I actually have attended concerts here in Seoul before, but this is the first time attending at a public open area like this. So it was like a total new experience and I felt proud as an ARMY seeing how BTS has grown up throughout these years. As it was their first concert after military service, it felt especially meaningful to me, and I felt truly grateful to be there.

Anastasia Voinalovich: Honestly, it’s still hard to put into words everything I felt before, during, and after the concert. It’s such a rare and beautiful opportunity to be in a place where history is happening.

While we were already in our section near the stage waiting for the show to begin, we were all singing BTS’s well-known songs together and practicing the fanchant for their incredible new single "SWIM." I realized that this concert was an important step into a new chapter not only for us, ARMYs, but for BTS themselves. After several years of waiting, both we, and they finally met again to keep the promise we made to each other, we stayed.

3. What was your favorite moment?

Vanessa Rivera: My favorite moment was during the "Butter" performance, when Namjoon (RM) was sitting down and the other members gathered around to hype him up as he tried to dance with his hands. He had sustained an ankle injury during rehearsals two days before the concert, and you could tell he was eager to stand and dance, especially as the group’s leader and after not being able to perform together since their military enlistment, but it was such a heartwarming moment to see the other members cheering him on.

Shashini Karunasena: I believe my favorite moment was when BTS performed "Mikrokosmos." It was very emotional, and since the song is so special to fans, hearing all seven members perform it together again after so long made me really happy.

Anastasia Voinalovich: Without a doubt, I’d say the fanchant with all the members’ names while they were standing together on one stage right in front of us. This was my very first group concert since becoming an ARMY, and finally being part of that fanchant felt incredibly special. And of course, hearing the new songs live just one day after their release? That was absolutely unforgettable.