On March 20, BTS released their fifth studio album, “Arirang.” The title track “Swim” topped Melon’s “Top 100” chart, while approximately 4 million physical copies were sold on the day of release. The following day, March 21, BTS successfully held their comeback performance at Gwanghwamun Square at 8 PM.
Marking their first full-group return in about four years, BTS embo∂ιєd a true “king’s comeback,” showcasing an undiminished stage presence and performance power. The members entered the stage via the “Eodo” path of Gyeongbokgung Palace—a royal route once used by kings of the Joseon Dynasty.
They opened the show with “Body to Body,” a track infused with elements of Arirang, followed by performances of new songs such as “2.0,” “NOMAL,” “Aliens,” and “LIKE ANIMALS,” instantly elevating the atmosphere. Notably, the performance of the title track “SWIM” became the highlight of the concert. A multimedia art effect simulating the flow of the Gwanghwamun stream was brought to life on stage, visually conveying the song’s message of moving forward relentlessly, even amid life’s turbulence.
After the concert, HYBE announced that approximately 22,000 official attendees and a total of 104,000 people were present at the event, including those gathered in surrounding areas from Gwanghwamun Square to near Seoul City Hall. This estimate was based on ticket reservations, data from the three major telecommunications providers, budget mobile users, and international visitors.
Notably, the concert was also livestreamed by global streaming platform Netflix, marking the first standalone кσяєαn concert to be broadcast live to over 190 countries. Following the event, The Telegraph reported that the livestream drew approximately 300 million online viewers, astonishing global au∂ιєnces with BTS’s enduring appeal despite nearly four years of group hiatus.
Opening by calling BTS “the face of K-pop,” The Telegraph commented: “Showing little signs of ring-rust, Arirang is a great comeback by an outfit that even hardcore fans may have felt had ℓσѕт their way across a series of increasingly syrupy releases prior to their hiatus. They have returned to their hip-hop roots and are re-engaging with their кσяєαn identity.”
The publication also noted: “Despite the success of KPop Demon Hunters, the last few years have been challenging for K-pop. Global sales globally have slumped and there have been question marks over the pressures the кσяєαn music industry places on its stars… Such concerns feel light years away, however, as this agreeably over-the-top album moves through the gears – from power ballad to electronic wig-out and rhapsodic rap…”
With such staggering figures reported around the event, fans echoed The Telegraph’s view that “Shattering records is all in a day’s work for K-pop megastars BTS,” expressing high expectations for a explosive “BTS 2.0” era, and remarking:
- 300 MILLION ???? that is absolutely fυ¢кing BONKERS wtf
- BTS!!!This was sooooo insane. Everybody and their mama knows BTS is coming back now, and a lot of them tune in
- Wait what 300 million people watched the Netflix BTS ARIRANG Comeback live. Oh The BTS Impact
- They’re walking the King Path in SK. The national pride streamed through Netflix to 190 countries to 300m
- 300 million people! I’ll say that again, 300 million people watched BTS’s come back on Netflix!!!!
- 300 million people watched the livestream on Netflix???? That’s a huge number—especially considering that so many others also watched it through links. God, BTS, you’re incredible.
- 300 million viewers?? That’s absolutely insane—BTS really operates on a completely different level
- If 300M is real, then we’re witnessing history. No one is touching BTS’s global reach right now.
- And that’s just Netflix… imagine how many more watched through other streams. The impact is unreal.
- I’m not even surprised anymore—BTS breaking records is basically a daily routine at this point.
- This just proves it again: BTS isn’t just popular, they’re a global phenomenon.
