On the 21st, when BTS is holding a comeback performance at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Derun Olga Viktorovna, 34, could not hide her excitement. Even her clothes and smartphone case were all purple, BTS's signature color.
Viktorovna said, "I plan to stay in Korea for a month until the BTS concert in April," adding, "I'm happy because it feels like a festival."
At 8 p.m. that day, BTS will present the stage "BTS Comeback Live: Arirang (ARIRANG)" around Gwanghwamun Square. It is the first time in about 3 years and 9 months that they are returning as a complete group.
Gwanghwamun Square bustled from early on with "ARMY (ARMY, BTS fandom)" who flocked from around the world to see BTS. In their hands were light sticks or BTS merchandise. Even as they walked, when BTS's new album Arirang appeared on the media wall around Gwanghwamun Square, they hurried to take commemorative photos.
Amy Diti, 25, from Morocco, matched hanbok skirts printed with Hunminjeongeum with her friends. She married a Korean husband and settled in Daejeon, but took a train to Seoul that day to see the performance. Diti said, "It was my dream to see BTS, and it actually came true," adding, "I'm so happy and excited."
Those who couldn't get seat tickets even pulled an all-nighter to see BTS a little closer. Jeong, 27, an eight-year fan, got off work the previous day and held out at a 24-hour cafe from 11 p.m. Jeong said, "Fans around the world have waited only for this day," adding, "I stayed up all night because I wanted to spend time together at Gwanghwamun Square."
Staying up together, ARMY quickly became close. College student Oh Min-jun, 21, and Japanese national Yokoyama Kaito, 19, had met for the first time the previous day, but were waiting for the performance for nearly 12 hours while talking about BTS. Both said, "We're tired," but added, "We're really looking forward to it."
Even those who came to Korea for reasons unrelated to the BTS concert expressed anticipation. Thomas Cross, 36, an American, and his Japanese wife, Erina Cross, 36, said, "We didn't come to Korea knowing about the BTS concert, but the timing was really good," adding, "We came out with our kids to feel the atmosphere at the venue."
However, with public transportation around the venue restricted and access allowed only through 31 gates, foreign tourists unfamiliar with the area voiced frustration.
Iwai Satomi, 52, from Japan, said, "I tried to take a bus to go out for lunch, but I just learned that (around Gwanghwamun Square) it isn't operating," adding, "It wasn't easy to get outside the gates."
Honda Masato, 29, came to tour Gyeongbok Palace, but said he only found out after arriving that it was closed due to the BTS concert. Honda said, "I'm thinking of at least going to Bukchon Hanok Village, but I don't know which gate to exit."