6,500 Police Officers Deployed for BTS Gwanghwamun Comeback Concert as 260,000 Fans Expected

Traffic Restrictions on Sejong-daero and Downtown on March 21
Metal Detectors Installed at 31 Gates
Full Deployment of Police Special Forces for Terrorism Prevention

BTS. Courtesy of Big Hit Music

With BTS set to make a full-group comeback performance for the first time in 3 years and 9 months, emergency measures have been put in place in downtown Seoul. Police estimate that up to 260,000 people may gather for the concert and will deploy more than 6,500 officers to ensure safety. This concert commemorates the release of BTS’s fifth studio album, 'ARIRANG,’ and will be broadcast live worldwide on Netflix.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and sources in the cultural sector on the 17th, the police have established a 'Comprehensive Safety Management Plan for the BTS Gwanghwamun Concert,' mobilizing around 70 riot squads, as well as traffic police, crime prevention officers, and special forces, totaling more than 6,500 officers. Approximately 5,400 pieces of equipment, including high-altitude observation vehicles, broadcast lighting trucks, and folding fences, will also be deployed to the site.

To manage crowd density, police will implement a 'stadium-style crowd control system.' A total of 31 gates will be set up at the entrances to the venue, and only those who pass through these gates will be allowed to enter the event area. If the crowd exceeds a certain level, the gates will be controlled to block further entry. Real-time monitoring of crowd density will be conducted using CCTV and on-site monitoring teams to prevent safety incidents.

Security against potential terrorist threats has also been strengthened. Police plan to install spike strips, signboard vehicles, and barricades on roads surrounding the venue to completely prevent vehicle ramming attacks. In particular, due to heightened international tensions and the increased risk of terrorism, walk-through metal detectors (MD) will be installed at each gate. MD checks will begin at 7 a.m. on the day of the concert, March 21, with strict measures in place to prevent dangerous items from being brought in.

Traffic around Gwanghwamun will be controlled in stages before and after the concert. Vehicle access will be restricted for 33 hours from 9 p.m. on March 20 to 6 a.m. on March 22 on the section from Sejong-daero Gwanghwamun Intersection to City Hall Intersection.

On the day of the concert, March 21, traffic will be restricted from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. between Jeokseon Intersection and Dongshipja Intersection on Sajik-ro and Yulgok-ro. The sections of Saemunan-ro and Jongno will also be blocked from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The police will designate some lanes as emergency vehicle-only lanes to prepare for any urgent situations.

To prevent accidents that may occur as crowds disperse all at once after the concert, a staggered exit will be guided. Nearby subway stations such as Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station, Jonggak Station, and Anguk Station may request trains to pass through without stopping, depending on congestion levels.

Big Hit Music, the group's agency, will hold rehearsals at a separate location rather than Gwanghwamun Square to enhance the quality of the concert and prevent leaks of new songs. This measure is intended to address both crowding and security issues, given the nature of an outdoor stage in the heart of Seoul.

BTS will release their new album 'ARIRANG' on March 20, the day before the concert. This album, which contains the group's identity and the unique sentiment of Korea, features a total of 14 tracks. During the 'BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG' concert, which will be held at 8 p.m. on March 21, the new songs will be performed for the first time in front of global fans. Approximately 22,000 invited guests will be admitted to the official zone for this free concert.

Crackdowns on illegal ticket sales are also being strengthened. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the police are taking a zero-tolerance approach to scalping. On the day of the concert, 56 police officers will be deployed to patrol and enforce the law. Anyone caught scalping tickets on-site will be fined 160,000 won in accordance with the Minor Offenses Act.

The cyber investigation unit is focusing on large-scale ticket purchases and resales using macro programs. Reselling tickets using macros is a violation of the Performance Act and is punishable by up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with the Korea Creative Content Agency, is constantly monitoring secondhand trading platforms and has referred four suspected cases of high-priced scalping (totaling 105 tickets) to the police for investigation.

The government has also pursued an amendment to the Performance Act that bans illegal transactions regardless of macro usage and imposes fines of up to 50 times the sales amount. An official from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated, "We will continue online monitoring and strengthen identity checks at entry to reduce scalping."

The retail and tourism industries are busy trying to capitalize on BTS's comeback. Hotels near Gwanghwamun are already fully booked around March 21, with some five-star hotel rates soaring to between 1.8 million and 2 million won per night, a phenomenon dubbed 'BTS inflation.'

The retail sector is also moving quickly. Shinsegae Department Store and its duty-free store have opened pop-up stores to sell related merchandise, while Lotte Department Store is illuminating its building exterior with purple lighting, symbolizing BTS. The Korea Culture and Tourism Institute estimates that the economic impact of this concert could reach up to 1.2 trillion won per performance.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.