‘Comeback of the century’: K-pop phenomenon BTS returns with first concert in years

By Kati Chitrakorn, Hanako Montgomery

The "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang" concert in Seoul on March 21, 2026.Kim Hong-Ji/Pool/Reuters)

Seoul — The moment that BTS fans have been waiting for has arrived: Members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook performing on the stage together for the first time in almost four years.

At the heart of BTS’ comeback is a free, public concert in Seoul for their most dedicated fans. While only 22,000 received the “Golden Ticket” to attend, the event was expected to attract as many as 260,000 fans, making it the largest-ever public concert in South Korea.

The one-hour concert is part of a promotional tour for BTS’ new fifth full-length studio album, “Arirang.” Released the day prior and named after a Korean traditional folk song that serves as the country’s unofficial national anthem, it explores themes like personal identity and belonging. It also precedes their world tour – the band’s biggest yet, covering 34 regions between April 2026 and March 2027. A documentary on their long-awaited reunion, as well as the live comeback concert, will be streamed on Netflix.

A drone show featuring BTS members lit up the sky the night before the concert. Reuters)

Several BTS fans attending the concert were inspired by hanbok, a traditional Korean dress. In the weeks ahead, social media has been flooded with outfit inspirations that incorporate hanbok styling and accessories.

Vivienne Ferrier, wearing an ornate floor-skimming jacket and dress, along with traditional Korean hair clips and accessories, told CNN that she had traveled from the US for the concert. “I chose the colors red and white because the album is red and white, so I wanted to celebrate what they were showing to us. This is a Korean traditional hanbok. And I just wanted to to really honor that,” she said.

Others incorporated pops of purple, the symbolic color of BTS and their fanbase. BTS, themselves, have also leaned into highlighting Korean culture, by selling hair clips, pouches and other accessories in collaboration with MU:DS, the official merchandise brand of the National Museum of Korea.

Among those who traveled to Seoul for the occasion was US-based Vivienne Ferrier, who dressed up for the concert in a traditional Korean hanbok. CNN)

The concert opened with BTS members walking toward the stage from the historic “King’s Road,” a ceremonial path through Gyeongbokgung Palace traditionally reserved for kings in the Joseon Dynasty. Each member opted for a monochromatic black-and-white look that consisted of flowy tops, structured outerwear and loose-fit trousers – designed by Songzio, one of South Korea’s first independent designer labels.

The show began with a performance of “Body to Body,” the first track of the group’s newly released album, with BTS eventually joined by supporting singers and musicians wearing hanboks and other traditional Korean attire. The group also sang energetic, older hits like “Butter” and “Dynamite” – with RM sitting down for parts of the performance, having sustained an ankle injury ahead of the show.

BTS wore flowy, monochromatic clothes during the "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang" concert in central Seoul on March 21, 2026.Kim Hong-Ji/Pool/Reuters)

Notably, the concert was directed by Hamish Hamilton, the British director renowned for his work on huge entertainment events, including the annual Super Bowl halftime show and Oscars, which gives an indication of the magnitude of BTS’ return.

Speaking to CNN over email, Hamilton described the production as being “among the most challenging” in terms of “sheer logistical complexity.”

The stage design, built by renowned events and production specialists Guy Carrington and Florian Wieder, was inspired by the concept of a picture frame – “a structure that both grounds the show in the modern energy of BTS and simultaneously honors the historical and cultural significance of the venue,” he said. “We did not want to come in and build something that felt at odds with the location (and) just drop a concert into the middle of one of Seoul’s most sacred spaces.”

Still, despite the extensive preparations (5.90 miles of cable powered the production), a lot was riding on BTS to deliver a flawless performance. “This is a public space, which means there was no rehearsal with the band on the actual stage before the night – something I have not encountered before in my career,” Hamilton said.

Reflecting on his experience working with BTS, who have been practicing for their big return inside a studio, Hamilton was most struck by their camaraderie and the “thoughtfulness to their work,” he said. “They listen. They ask questions. They contribute ideas. They tease each other and laugh together. They are clearly seven friends who happen to be among the most famous people on Earth.”

BTS’ work ethic has also left an impression on Hamilton, who after working on this year’s Super Bowl, gathered all seven BTS members to rewatch it together. “They wanted to understand how these things come together. That level of engagement from an act of this stature is a real gift.”

Some concertgoers dressed in purple, widely considered the color of BTS and their fanbase. CNN)