The band BTS returned to the stage. You might not have heard of them, but 250,000 people flocked to Seoul for this concert

Photo: Kim Hong-Ji — Pool/Getty Images

On Saturday in Seoul, after a long break, a concert was held by the most successful South Korean group of recent years — BTS. According to promoters, about 105,000 spectators came to Gwanghwamun Square in the historical center of Seoul. In total, according to city authorities, about 250,000 people from other regions of the country and from abroad came to the city for the group's performance, writes the BBC.

It is reported that only 22,000 people were able to get to the stage, the rest stood behind the fence and watched the performance on huge screens.

In honor of their return to their multimillion-strong army of fans, the boy band gave this concert for free.

Earlier, it was estimated that the upcoming BTS concert in central Seoul would bring almost a billion dollars to South Korea's economy.

The seven members of the group — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook — are idols in their homeland and very popular worldwide.

Their long-awaited album Arirang was released the day before (its title is a reference to the most famous Korean folk song, a kind of sentimental anthem about overcoming difficulties and moving towards a better future), and Saturday's concert was their first joint performance since October 2022.

Then, at the peak of their popularity, the boy band announced a hiatus to complete their mandatory military service. Jin was the first to enlist in 2022, and Suga was the last, completing his service last June, after which the group's reunion became possible.

For millions of fans worldwide, Saturday's concert was live-streamed on Netflix. As part of an agreement with BTS, the platform acquired exclusive streaming rights to the performance, as well as to a documentary about the group's reunion — a marketing success amidst multi-billion dollar investments in the Korean entertainment industry.

In April, BTS will embark on a major world tour. The group will give 82 concerts in over 30 cities worldwide — from Singapore and Tokyo to Munich and Los Angeles.

The tour is projected to generate about $1 billion, but the South Korean authorities particularly emphasize that BTS's contribution to the country's development extends far beyond the economic component.

The musical genre K-pop originated in South Korea. It combines various styles — electropop, hip-hop, rhythm and blues — and has grown into an entire subculture.

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