As BTS prepares for its upcoming comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square, large scale traffic controls and temporary closures are being implemented across central Seoul, drawing public attention and debate.
The group will hold “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG” on March 21 at 8 PM KST at Gwanghwamun Square. In preparation for the expected crowds, various measures have been announced by government authorities, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, police, and nearby businesses.
Subway trains will pass through stations near the venue without stopping between 2 PM and 10 PM on the day of the event. Seoul has designated the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History as the control center for on site operations, while police plan to deploy around 4,800 personnel to prepare for possible emergencies. Sejong Center for the Performing Arts has also adjusted exhibition and performance schedules.
Private companies and nearby businesses are also taking precautionary steps. KT will close its Gwanghwamun headquarters building for the day, and shops inside the building including Starbucks Reserve Gwanghwamun, KT Gwanghwamun West underground stores, and Paris Baguette 1945 will suspend operations. Several nearby cafés and bakeries are also considering temporary closures.
However, the large scale event has also caused frustration among some residents and businesses. One groom in his 40s, who plans to hold his wedding near the area next month, expressed concern about heavy traffic and large crowds affecting guests traveling from outside Seoul.
“I have two buses of guests coming from other regions, many of them elderly,” he said in an interview. “Traffic will be chaotic, and I feel sorry thinking they may get stuck in the crowds.”
Police estimate that as many as 200,000 people could gather for the event. Wedding halls and businesses near Gwanghwamun have also reported receiving numerous inquiries from customers worried about congestion, noise, and safety issues.
A Seoul city official explained that the timeline for the event was finalized relatively late, which delayed coordination on traffic control plans. Authorities said they plan to provide detour information and take precautionary measures for nearby venues such as churches and wedding halls.
HYBE, BTS’s agency, stated that it will mobilize company resources to ensure the event proceeds safely.
Amid the ongoing discussion, some online users have revisited BLACKPINK member Lisa’s past actions during a music video shoot in Bangkok’s Yaowarat Road in May 2024. At the time, businesses temporarily closed during the late night filming hours, and Lisa reportedly provided 20,000 baht to each shop owner as compensation, as well as 1,000 baht to pedestrians for the inconvenience.
The story has resurfaced online, with some users praising the gesture as considerate while others suggested that large events should also consider compensation or measures to support affected businesses.
Meanwhile, BTS will release their fifth studio album ARIRANG on March 20, followed by the “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG” performance at Gwanghwamun Square the next day.
