"Gwanghwamun Comeback Show Proposed by Bang Sihyuk... A Venue Symbolizing BTS's Identity" [BTS is back]

BTS. Provided by Big Hit Music

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"The most frequently asked question during preparations was, 'Why Gwanghwamun?' The answer is directly tied to BTS's identity."

Yoo Dongjoo, Head of APAC at HYBE Music Group, explained the background behind the selection of the concert venue during a media briefing held at Cinecube Gwanghwamun in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on March 20.

Yoo stated, "Bang Sihyuk, Chairman of HYBE, who oversaw the concert, emphasized that if BTS, who started in Korea and became global superstars, were to make a comeback, the starting point should be Korea, and it should be the most iconic place." He added, "The very experience of fans from around the world raising a toast and enjoying the performance at a symbolic Korean location is a culturally rare moment, and it aligns with HYBE's vision of 'expanding the fan experience.'"

Kim Hyunjung, Vice President of Big Hit Music and executive producer of the album, defined the identity of the new album 'Arirang' as 'roots.' Kim said, "BTS has always turned their emotions at each moment into music," and "as you can tell from the album name, this work begins with identity and roots, and both Korean and English were used to effectively deliver the message."

Kim also expressed hopes that "the album will be something not only existing fans but also generations unfamiliar with BTS can enjoy," adding, "Details of the production process will be included in a documentary to be released next week."

Brandon Rigg, Vice President of Nonfiction Series & Sports at Netflix, which is supporting the global live broadcast, described this project as "the largest viewing party on earth."

Rigg emphasized, "Of all the live events Netflix is hosting this year, the BTS concert will be the biggest," and "by sharing this moment through diverse channels, we hope fans will share a single, united experience." He also expressed confidence, saying, "This will be an opportunity to show the world just how far the collaboration between BTS and Netflix can go."

On the 20th, one day before the comeback performance of the group BTS, Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul is in the final stages of preparation for the concert. Photo by Jo Yongjun

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Garrett English, the executive producer, identified technical harmony and collaboration as key focuses. English stated, "The main point of discussion was how to bring BTS's creative vision to the stage," and added, "We will deliver a harmonious stage to the world that blends BTS's modern elements with respect for the historic sites of Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung." He asserted, "This project will set a new standard in the music industry as a truly unique experience."

This concert is a massive project with an unprecedented scale of resources. According to Netflix, a total of 9.5 kilometers (5.90 miles) of power cable will be installed on-site, which is equivalent to the length of 41,536 official BTS light sticks lined up end to end. The stage roof stands 14.7 meters high, about the height of a five-story building, and the stage itself is 17 meters wide.

To capture the visual intensity of the event, 23 cameras will be deployed, and special equipment such as the EagleEye System and TowerCam XL will be installed at various points up to 1.6 kilometers away, including on building rooftops. The expected total footage capacity is 108 terabytes (TB), with server capacity reaching 40TB. The total number of pixels for all LEDs is 50,669,376, creating a vivid sense of presence for viewers worldwide.

BTS's comeback stage will take place at 8 p.m. on the 21st.

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