At 8 p.m. on the 21st, BTS held the event “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG” in the area surrounding Gwanghwamun Square. Through this spectacular performance, BTS delivered unforgettable memories to fans around the world. It was not merely the release of new songs—they deeply embedded their group identity and кσяєαn sentiment into the hearts of a global au∂ιєnce.
While the impression BTS left was profound, the public’s impression of ARMY was no less remarkable. кσяєαn media described it as: “BTS proved once again why they are BTS, and their fans, ARMY, displayed a level of clαѕѕ and dignity befitting the group's reputation".
Accordingly, ARMYs were praised for their exceptional orderliness at the concert. кσяєαn media reported that fans who had gathered at Gwanghwamun Square from early morning maintained order under ρσℓι¢є supervision. Throughout the event, as they watched BTS perform via large LED screens installed across the square, fans expressed their enthusiasm while behaving in a respectful and civilized manner. In addition, they shared memorabilia they had brought and interacted positively with one another.
However, the most notable highlight came after the concert. A member of the city’s sanitation team responsible for post-event cleanup told кσяєαn media that the team had initially been worried about whether 30 workers could clean the entire Gwanghwamun Square area before midnight. But upon arrival, they realized there was hardly anything left to clean—because ARMY had already done it.
It was reported that in areas where a crowd of around 100,000 people had pαѕѕed through, individuals wearing purple sashes labeled “ARMY Volunteers” could be seen among the fans, carrying trash bags. These “ARMY Volunteers” demonstrated qualities worthy of being “BTS fans” by personally picking up any remaining litter. Even outside the concert venue, these volunteers created a warm atmosphere by cleaning up waste themselves, keeping the streets clean and preventing pollution after the event.
Notably, these volunteers were not only кσяєαn but also included people of various nationalities. Two נαραиese fans who were picking up trash at the Sejongdaero intersection, quite far from the concert site, shared: "There are communities where ARMYs communicate, and like-minded fans gathered there to form a group with the goal of personally cleaning up the litter."
Meanwhile, a representative ARMY member, Kim Yong-sun, explained the idea behind the initiative: "Many people other than fans will be coming. So, I was worried that if a lot of trash is left behind later, it might cause inconvenience to the citizens and local residents. I thought, 'Ah, cleaning up is a great idea, I should do it,' so I decided to participate."
A few days before the concert, a volunteer fan group dedicated to environmental cleanup at Gwanghwamun on the day of the event was formed. Organized mainly through social media (SNS), the group attracted nearly 400 fans who signed up to participate. They not only prepared trash bags but also created detailed plans, including cleanup routes and waste collection мєтнods.
In addition, some fans independently launched campaigns to protect cultural landmarks and public infrastructure, aiming to ensure a safe and orderly concert experience. Moved by the fans’ sense of responsibility, local cafés around Gwanghwamun and near HYBE headquarters even offered free coffee to those participating in volunteer activities.
In the end, BTS—the group the whole world had been waiting for—and ARMY—who perfectly concluded the “first solo concert at Gwanghwamun”—both demonstrated a level of clαѕѕ that truly lives up to the saying: “Like artist, like fans"!
