South Korea shut down the heart of Seoul on Saturday for a comeback concert by Kpop supergroup BTS, as authorities prepare for an estimated 260,000 fans to flood the capital's streets and millions more watch the show live on Netflix.

The hour-long concert in historic Gwanghwamun ⁠Square marks the release of the seven-strong group's first album in more than three years, ahead of a global tour starting next month.

The comeback album "Arirang" sold 3.98 million copies on its first day of release, Big Hit Music, the music label run by BTS' management agency HYBE, said on Saturday.

BTS debuted in 2013 and have gone on to global superstardom, becoming the most streamed Kpop artistes globally on Spotify, its members invited to the White House and partnering with the UN General Assembly. In 2022, the group went on hiatus so the members could complete South Korea's mandatory military service.

Seoul is staging the event nearly four years after a crowd crush killed Halloween revellers in the Itaewon nightlife district. Memories of the disaster still linger, amplifying pressure on South Korean authorities to ensure ⁠the safety of what is expected to be one of its largest-ever public gatherings.

Seoul police have shut streets and erected fences as well as metal ⁠detectors around the square, which sits to the ⁠south of the Gyeongbokgung Palace. They have also said they will jam signals of any unauthorised drones.

The Seoul government, HYBE and other organisations involved in the event have deployed a combined 8,200 personnel to manage the crowds that began gathering on Friday. The city government said it had set up medical stations and secured ⁠2,551 toilets open to the public including in nearby buildings.

Organisers of the concert, which starts ‌at 7pm Hong Kong time or 8pm in Seoul, gave away 22,000 tickets, but the area is open to non-ticket holders who will be able to watch the performance on Netflix via giant screens.

It will be streamed live on the platform to 190 countries. (Reuters)



Edited by Thomas McAlinden