Members of the K-pop juggernaut BTS on March 21 stand on a woldae (elevated stone platform) before the group's performance at Gwanghwamun Gate in Seoul's Jongno-gu District.
By Xu Aiying
Photos = Big Hit Music & Netflix
"Hi, Seoul, we are back!"
With a drone flying across the grand royal road connecting the gates of Geunjeongmun, Heungnyemun and Gwanghwamun of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the seven members of K-pop juggernaut BTS -- RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook -- appeared on the woldae (elevated stone platform) amid traditional dancers.
Through the concert "BTS Comeback Live: Arirang" on March 21 from 8 p.m., the boy band informed the world of their return from a hiatus of nearly four years. The legions of the group's official fan club Army from around the globe filled Gwanghwamun Square with cheers and a massive purple wave.
BTS kicked off the concert with "Body to Body," a single from its fifth and latest studio album "Arirang." Beginning with a soft rap, the song from its latter half featured samples of the folk song "Arirang," resonating across stage with a live performance by vocalists and musicians from the National Gugak (Traditional Music) Center.
Both Korean and international fans sang along to "Arirang" in unison in a massive sing-along.
Seemingly rendering its long absence trivial, BTS performed 12 songs without a break --eight from "Arirang" such as "Swim" and "Hooligan" and four earlier hits like "Butter" and "Dynamite."
Jin (clockwise from left), RM, Suga, J-Hope, Jung Kook, Jimin and V on March 21 perform at their concert "BTS Comeback Live: Arirang" at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul's Jongno-gu District.
The members also spoke during their hour-long concert, expressing their longing and the overwhelming emotion of their comeback as a complete group.
Jimin said, "Army, we've finally met. I'm so emotional and grateful to be able to speak in front of you like this, and I'm so happy that all seven of us can gather again like this."
"I'm so honored to perform at Gwanghwamun Gate, Korea's most historic place," Suga added. "We wanted to embed our identity in this album so we decided on 'Arirang' as the title and decided to express that sentiment by performing at Gwanghwamun."
"I'm so happy to be back and all of these moments are thanks to you," J-Hope said with a smile. "BTS 2.0 has just begun."
BTS on March 21 performs in "BTS Comeback Live: Arirang" against the backdrop of Gyengbokgung Palace in Seoul's Jongno-gu District.
Netflix livestreamed the concert around the world, the first time for the streaming site to air an exclusive live musical performance in real time. The concert was directed by Hamish Hamilton, who has worked on the Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, the Super Bowl halftime show of the U.S. and opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
This large-scale project required a tremendous level of coordination by staff from 10 countries, production personnel speaking eight languages and teams spanning six time zones.
American singer Becky G (center) on March 21 is among BTS fans from around the world watching "BTS Comeback Live: Arirang" at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul's Jongno-gu District.
Despite the massive crowds from around the world, the event featured orderly security without incident and the public's cooperation.
Foreign media covered the concert as breaking news, reporting on the atmosphere at the scene in real time.
BTS flew to New York the day after the concert to attend an event on March 23 hosted by Spotify and appear on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on NBC from March 25-26.
The boy band's world tour begins next month on April 9, 11 and 12 at Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do Province.
xuaiy@korea.kr
