The wait is finally over - BTS are officially back.
The global K-pop icons have dropped their long-awaited comeback album 'Arirang', sending fans into meltdown - and in Seoul, that excitement is spilling out into the streets.
Crowds descended on Yeouido, where a riverside fan event organised by HYBE brought together the band's global fanbase, known as ARMY, to celebrate the release and build anticipation for the group’s return to the stage.
A mega open-air concert is set to take place in central Seoul near Gyeongbokgung Palace and the wider Gwanghwamun area, and will mark BTS's first major live performance following a nearly four-year hiatus while all seven members completed mandatory military service in South Korea.
It comes ahead of an 82-date world tour which will begin in South Korea in April, running through March 2027 across Asia, North America, South America, Australia and Europe.
Named after a centuries-old Korean folk song, 'Arirang' is themed around the transcendent qualities of traditional music; how it can be a connective tissue between generations that unites and connects.
Ahead of the release of the album, BTS member Jimin said: "We gave deep thought to our identity – and how best to express ourselves authentically – across the entirety of our music and performances."
He added in a statement: "As an extension of that process, we also revisited the significance of our background as a group comprised entirely of Korean members."
Fans have travelled from across continents to witness the moment. Marta Corona, 25, who flew in from Poland, said the comeback felt long overdue. “I am very excited. They are coming back after a long break and personally the last time I saw BTS in person was in 2019 in London,” she said.
Dalila Di Tullio, 32, from Italy, described the upcoming performance as historic. “My expectations for tomorrow are so big. It’s one of the century comebacks that all the world expects,” she said. "I came from Italy just to live that."
Authorities are preparing for unprecedented crowds. Around 20,000 ticketed fans are expected at the main venue, while an additional 240,000 people could gather in surrounding areas to watch via large outdoor screens.
Roads will be closed, public transport adjusted and access to key landmarks restricted as part of extensive crowd-control measures.
The concert will also be streamed globally via Netflix, allowing millions of fans worldwide to tune in.
