With just one day left until the global-scale event “BTS Comeback Show: ARIRANG,” a sense of urgency is sweeping across the city. Preparations have entered their final stage. The large screens and stage have been set up, while seating and barricades are now in place.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has also begun implementing security and traffic control measures. A total of 31 buildings near Gwanghwamun Square have imposed access restrictions. Rooftop access will be completely prohibited in 7 of these buildings, while the remaining 24 will restrict access to upper floors. Roads surrounding Gwanghwamun Square will be closed for 33 hours, from 9 PM on March 20 (KST) to 6 AM on March 22 (KST), and all public transportation access points in the area will be shut down during this period.
One particularly notable report from кσяєαn media is that Netflix has reserved the entire luxury “Four Seasons Hotel Seoul,” located right at the heart of Gwanghwamun Square, exclusively for VIP guests attending “BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG” this weekend (March 21–22). The entire property, including all rooms, will be closed to the general public and dedicated to a large-scale VIP event, with the guest list reportedly including Netflix’s global content partners.
The Four Seasons Hotel Seoul sits right next to Gwanghwamun Square, meaning guests can easily watch “BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG” directly from their room windows. The hotel is also expected to enforce strict security measures. Meanwhile, BTS members will not be staying at the hotel; they plan to travel to the venue from their own residences.
As the news spread, fans began speculating about the identities of these VIP guests. One fan commented, “Netflix is going all out for VIP guests, and I’m curious who these people attending BTS’s show are.” Others added, “Maybe they mean chaebols?”, “Hotels around Gwanghwamun have been fully booked for months, yet Netflix still managed to reserve an entire hotel—what incredible spending power,” “Netflix is even more dedicated than HYBE,” and “This is a win-win partnership, but booking an entire hotel for VIPs is truly impressive.”
Meanwhile, during a pre-media briefing held on the 20th at Cinecube Gwanghwamun in Seoul, Netflix expressed immense confidence in the project's unprecedented scale. Brandon Riegg, VP of Non-fiction Series and Sports, stated, "Under our mission of 'Entertainment World,' we focus on entertaining the globe. Moments like this live event are clearly 'must-see' milestones, and BTS was likely drawn to the reach of Netflix’s global platform."
The collaboration has been in development since the early stages of BTS's comeback planning. The global broadcast, stage design, and performance logistics were co-produced by BTS members, HYBE staff, and Netflix executives.
Executive Producer Garrett English highlighted the production's focus on harmonizing the historical significance of Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung Palace with BTS's modern vision, turning the venue itself into a dynamic production that showcases Seoul to the world.
Yoo Dong-ju, APAC Head of HYBE Music Group, added: "Chairman Bang Si-hyuk believed that for BTS—global superstars who started in кσяєα—the comeback must begin at кσяєα's most symbolic location. This aligns with HYBE's vision of expanding the fan experience."
Netflix plans to leverage this event to further increase investment in кσяєαn content. "There was no better choice than BTS for our first live event in кσяєα," Riegg emphasized. "Our investment will continue to grow because we are avid fans of кσяєαn entertainment, and our goal is to bring that joy to our members worldwide."
All the pre-event buzz is pushing global fan excitement to an all-time high!
