Sawt Falasteen - BTS takes over central Seoul for comeback concert

Widely lauded as the biggest boy band in the world, BTS went on hiatus in 2022 so the group's seven members could serve compulsory stints in the South Korean military.

Millions more across about 190 countries will tune in to see the performance broadcast live on Netflix, while authorities will deploy thousands of police and security staff for the crowds that will converge on Seoul.

BTS's comeback concert is being staged on the doorstep of the historic Gyeongbokgung royal palace -- a fitting venue for the so-called "Kings of K-pop".

The show begins at 8:00 pm (1100 GMT), and fans say check-in starts from noon to 2:00 pm and entry to the venue from 4:00 pm.

The band's latest album, ARIRANG, dropped Friday with fans pre-saving it five million times on music streaming platform Spotify ahead of its release -- the highest ever for a K-pop act.

The title takes its name from a folk song about longing and separation that is often dubbed South Korea's unofficial national anthem.

In Seoul, the group is expected to perform their latest album, which is billed as a reflection of the maturing boy band's Korean identity.

"I believe that returning to show ourselves exactly as we are is, ultimately, a process that begins at the roots," member J-Hope said.

"It is my conviction that we exist as we do today precisely because those roots were strong and united."

Saturday's show precedes an 82-date world tour expected to deliver a major economic boost at home and abroad.

The group will likely be "remembered as game-changers who truly proved that South Korea could compete on the global music stage while never losing sight of where they came from", Jeff Benjamin, Billboard's K-pop columnist, told AFP.

"BTS starting off this new era with a huge comeback concert in the middle of Seoul feels like a group that wants to ensure Korea remains at the heart of this massively anticipated return."

- Ankle injury -

Hundreds of thousands of fans -- known collectively as ARMY -- are expected to descend on the South Korean capital with hopes of catching a glimpse of the show.

But in an unexpected setback, the group's agency said Friday member RM injured his ankle and would have limited onstage participation.

Authorities said Gyeongbokgung Palace and the nearby National Palace Museum of Korea will be closed for the day for security.

About 6,700 police officers, along with 8,200 security staff from the Seoul city government and the group's agency HYBE will be deployed.

Formed in 2010, BTS were among the first K-pop groups to achieve global superstardom, topping the US Billboard 200 with hits like "Dynamite" and "Butter".

Before their hiatus, they regularly ranked alongside Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber on Spotify.

- Resilience -

The concert will take place in Seoul's sweeping Gwanghwamun Square beside Gyeongbokgung. Built in 1395, the former royal palace is often seen as a symbol of Korean resilience through dynastic collapse, colonial rule and pro-democracy protests.

BTS -- short for Bulletproof Boy Scouts in Korean -- have championed UNICEF campaigns, the Black Lives Matter movement and efforts to combat anti-Asian racism.

Members have also spoken candidly about the pressures of the music industry.

Their message "has always centred around self-reflection, resilience and courage to keep moving forward, even when life feels uncertain", said Carmen Low, 32, a fan in Malaysia.

"In many ways, those themes feel just as relevant -- if not more -- in 2026.

"Their return could be a reminder of those values, encouraging conversations about identity, dreams, mental health, and what it means to grow up in a complex world," she told AFP.

L.AbuTayeh--SF-PST