President Lee Jae-myung sent a message of support ahead of BTS’s comeback performance.
On the 17th, speaking about BTS’s Gwanghwamun Plaza show, President Lee said, “A performance by BTS, the pride of the Republic of Korea, is taking place.” He added, “With ‘Arirang’ as its theme, I hope it becomes a meaningful moment to share our beautiful cultural heritage and the charm of K-culture.” He emphasized, “May this concert once again prove the great cultural power created by Korea and become a special moment long remembered around the world.”
The government is also going all out on safety. President Lee noted, “We are fully prepared in coordination with related ministries, local governments, police, fire departments, and other agencies,” and pledged, “We will thoroughly manage traffic and crowds and be ready for emergencies.” He also asked citizens to help maintain order, follow staff guidance, and report scalping.
BTS will drop their fifth full-length album, "ARIRANG," at 1 p.m. on the 20th. The next day, on the 21st, they will hold "BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG" at Gwanghwamun Plaza. The show will be broadcast live worldwide on Netflix.
Ahead of the show, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced large-scale safety measures.
Police will deploy all available personnel, including the police special operations unit, to conduct a full pre-event safety sweep of the venue. In the event of emergencies such as bomb threats, an analysis-and-response team will be activated for rapid action. Authorities said they will respond strictly, with arrests in principle, to false threats that disrupt the event. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will also enforce traffic controls around Gwanghwamun Plaza, anticipating major crowds on show day.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)