On March 20, BTS, the globally recognized K-pop band, returned with the long-anticipated album «Arirang,» announced on Jan. 4, marking the group’s first full-length album since «Be» was released in 2020.
The album’s 14 tracks, led by the single «SWIM,» are already available on major streaming services, including Apple Music and Spotify. Prominent producers were involved in the album’s production, including Diplo, Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, Mike WiLL Made-It and Ryan Tedder.
However, the hype is set to continue on March 21 with the BTS The Comeback Live | Arirang concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul — on such a scale that city authorities are set to implement extensive safety measures for the event. According to Yonhap, up to 260,000 attendees are expected, so the authorities plan to deploy 15,000 personnel, including 6,700 police officers. The measures also include setting up triple-layer barricades, deploying tactical teams to respond to drone threats and restricting traffic in the area. The subway will restrict access to lockers at 17 stations, as well as operate non-stop through Gwanghwamun, Seoul City Hall and Gyeongbokgung stations.
Furthermore, the group’s label, BigHit Music, shared unexpected news — the BTS leader RM suffered an ankle injury during rehearsals on March 19, the agency said on Weverse on March 20. According to the post, the singer must wear a cast and limit movement for at least two weeks. However, RM will perform on stage, though with limited choreography to prevent worsening the injury.
The comeback concert will also be streamed on Netflix, available on all subscription plans, followed by a documentary release on March 27.
