Image Credit: BigHit Music
Filming and Cultural Heritage Use Conditionally Approved
BTS is officially preparing to announce their long-awaited comeback as a full group, nearly three years and nine months after their last group release. The group will mark the occasion in Seoul’s historic Gwanghwamun area, following conditional approval for filming and location use at major cultural heritage sites.
On January 20 (KST), Korea’s Cultural Heritage Committee conditionally approved HYBE’s request to use and film at Gyeongbokgung Palace and Sungnyemun (Namdaemun). The Korea Heritage Service stated that a subcommittee will later review detailed plans, including potential impacts on the heritage sites.
Comeback Content to Be Filmed at Historic Landmarks
With the approval, BTS will be able to film pre-produced comeback content at Gyeongbokgung Palace and Gwanghwamun. Filming is expected to take place on Gyeongbokgung’s weekly closure day (Tuesdays) to minimize public disruption.
HYBE has also proposed nighttime media façade events, featuring LED projection visuals on the walls of Gwanghwamun and Sungnyemun’s fortress walls. These events are intended to serve as a high-impact visual announcement signaling BTS’s return.
New Album ARIRANG Set for March 20 Release
BTS will officially return on March 20 with their fifth full-length album, ARIRANG. The album marks their first major release since the June 2022 anthology album Proof and their first comeback since completing military service as a full group.
The comeback is expected to be one of the most significant moments in K-pop this year, drawing global attention from fans and media alike.
Gwanghwamun Square Concert Under Review
In addition to filming, BTS is preparing a large-scale comeback performance at Gwanghwamun Square. HYBE has submitted applications to both the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Korea Heritage Service for use of Gwanghwamun Square, Gyeongbokgung, and the surrounding areas.
Proposed performance dates include March 20, the album’s release day, as well as March 21–22. According to city officials, HYBE has expressed interest in hosting a concert for approximately 18,000 attendees at Gwanghwamun Square on Saturday, March 21, along with a separate event for up to 30,000 people at Seoul Plaza.
If approved, this would be the first time a single artist or group holds a standalone concert at Gwanghwamun Square.
Global Livestream Planned for Millions Worldwide
In its application, HYBE emphasized the global scale of the event, stating that the performance would be livestreamed via a global OTT platform to 300 million subscribers across 190 countries.
The agency described the event as comparable in scale to global broadcasts such as the World Cup or the Olympics, estimating that over 50 million viewers worldwide would be exposed to K-heritage and K-culture through the broadcast.
Final Decision Expected Soon
Approval for the use of Gwanghwamun Square and the concert itself is expected as early as this week, or by next week at the latest. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to convene an advisory committee to review safety and crowd management measures, which will be a key factor in granting final approval.
As anticipation builds, BTS’s potential return at one of Seoul’s most iconic landmarks is already being hailed as a historic moment—for both the group and K-pop on a global stage.
