At 9:40 p.m. on the 21st around Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. Even after BTS' comeback concert ended, some ARMY (BTS fandom) did not leave. They stayed to pick up trash left around the venue.
They reportedly gathered voluntarily through social media (SNS). A person surnamed Kim, 36, who was picking up trash near City Hall Station, said, "There are 400 people just in the open KakaoTalk chatroom for volunteers."
Some came prepared not only with trash bags but also with grabbers. Hong Su-min, 28, meticulously cleaned up trash near Gwanghwamun Station. Hong said, "I came because I'm a BTS fan, and I joined the volunteer effort wondering if there was anything I could do to help."
The nationalities of the ARMY volunteers were diverse, including the United States, France and Thailand. Asked why they were picking up trash, A, a 10-year ARMY from Japan, 44, said, "I wanted to help, even a little, Seoul, which gave the stage, and BTS who returned." Giving a thumbs-up, A added, "It was truly the best concert."
Despite the crowds, there were no particular safety accidents as people headed home after the show. While organizers and authorities stationed safety personnel—numbering as many as 15,000—throughout the area, a major factor was ARMY closely following BTS' final request during the concert to "get home safely."
During the concert, BTS members thanked the Seoul Metropolitan Government and police for their help. Suga said, "We thank the Seoul Metropolitan Government for permitting us to perform at Gwanghwamun and the police officers who worked hard on site," and Jimin added, "And we're also sorry." Jungkook also said, "We thank the officials who helped us finish the concert safely."