Since early February, after BigHit Music confirmed the performance titled “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG” at Gwanghwamun Square on the 21st, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and relevant authorities—including the local district office, fire department, and ρσℓι¢є—have been rushing to make comprehensive preparations for traffic management, crowd control, and crime prevention related to the event. At least two emergency meetings on this matter have been held in recent months.
At the first meeting on February 9, Park Jeong-bo, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police, stated: “We have appointed the Deputy Commissioner for Public Safety as the head of a dedicated Task Force (TF) to ensure the event proceeds safely.” The area surrounding the venue will be divided into four zones based on crowd density and further subdivided into 15 smaller sections, each directly overseen by senior ρσℓι¢є officers (colonel rank).
Another emergency meeting was held again on the 9th of this month to discuss more specific measures. This time, the Seoul city government announced that it would deploy an on-site response force of around 3,400 personnel at the venue, major subway stations, and areas expected to gather large crowds in order to monitor pedestrian flow in real time and prevent α¢¢ι∂єитs. In coordination with the city ρσℓι¢є, HYBE also announced that 3,553 security personnel have been prepared for the event.
To ensure public safety, nearby subway stations will not stop to pick up pαѕѕengers, and several bus routes will be adjusted. In addition to safety inspections and improvements to surrounding facilities, the city plans to operate more than 2,500 open and portable restrooms for attendees.
Seoul will establish a “Citizen Safety Response Command Center” consisting of eight specialized divisions under the direction of the city’s Disaster Management Chief. This command center will coordinate with ρσℓι¢є and fire authorities to oversee crowd management, traffic control, and emergency medical response.
A specialized monitoring unit within the cybercrime investigation department has also been formed to prevent the spread of fake cyberattack threats on social media and to closely track any signs of extremist activity in order to respond promptly. Crime-prevention and counter-terrorism measures have also been strengthened.
Oh Se-hoon stated: “Even facilities we normally overlook, like subway vents and construction barriers, can become hazards in front of a crowd of 170,000. Areas where people may climb, or crowd must be re-examined from the field, and any necessary reinforcement measures must be implemented.” He further emphasized: “Accidents occur the moment we let our guard down because we’re used to it. We must remember that α¢¢ι∂єитs always start with that 1% of carelessness.”
When these reports spread, some South кσяєαn netizens expressed skepticism that a single concert could prompt such large-scale mobilization and urgency from the authorities, commenting: “Is this some national event?”, “Were they at this level?”, “Is this how a country should act when a singer makes a comeback?”, and “What disaster are they preparing for? So ridiculous.”
However, the scale and significance of the event are far greater than what many initially imagined. The performance not only aligns with the concept of the group’s fifth studio album and serves as a meaningful beginning for their new chapter, but it also carries importance in promoting кσяєαn culture worldwide. Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik described the concert—expected to attract up to 260,000 people—as an opportunity for South кσяєα to reaffirm its position as a global hub of popular culture exchange.
Kang pointed out: “In an event where hundreds of thousands of people gather, even a single α¢¢ι∂єит can deal a fatal blow to the national prestige, so thorough preparation is essential.” Meanwhile, Mayor Oh Se-hoon expressed a similar view on the event’s importance: “Let’s ensure a seamless safety system so that global fans leave with the impression that ‘Seoul’s safety is in a league of its own.’”
Besides, during the birthday livestream today, SUGA confidently assured that the upcoming concert will not disappoint ARMY. "Now we’re preparing for the comeback show and concerts. I think you can have high expectations for the comeback show and the concert too", he said.
For this reason, Seoul also announced that it will release a digital guidebook (кσяєαn/English) in mid-March providing transportation information, emergency contacts, and suggested travel routes. The “Seoul Smart Map” will also update the locations of restrooms and medical stations in four languages (кσяєαn, English, Chinese, and נαραиese). In particular, the 120 Dasan Call Center will increase staffing to support five languages, while 70 tour guides and 600 volunteers will be deployed on site to αѕѕist international fans.
The sheer scale of the event clearly matches the status and influence of BTS—K-pop superstars whose impact has long extended beyond national borders. Supportive fans and netizens could not hide their amazement, commenting: “Because BTS are global superstars, the scale obviously isn’t just a few thousand people", “This is 200,000 attendees, not a normal group performing on a music show", “When the king travels incognito and the people gather, of course the whole city must prepare. Only BTS are kings", “This is why BTS are called international artists—the return of kings", “The whole world is buzzing because of them. Can’t wait for 10 more days"...
