광화문 광장 일대에서 공연
"잊히지 않았을까" 속내 고백
4월 콘서트 기대감 고조
"잊히지 않았을까" 속내 고백
4월 콘서트 기대감 고조
BTS painted Gwanghwamun Square in purple as they marked their first full-group comeback live performance since completing their military service, returning after 3 years and 9 months.
On the 21st, BTS (RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, Jungkook) held 'BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG' at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. The event was broadcast live to over 190 countries and regions worldwide via Netflix.
Gwanghwamun Square was filled with the purple hue symbolic of BTS. Fans, known as ARMY, gathered from all over the world to witness the long-awaited performance of BTS.
Leader RM announced their return with, "Hello Seoul. We're back," as BTS opened with 'Body to Body', 'Hooligan', and '2.0'. After their performance, they greeted the audience with, "It's been four years since we last greeted you like this. Two, three. Hello, we are BTS."
First Full Group Performance in 3 Years and 9 Months: Members Share Their Thoughts
Jin expressed, "I vividly remember asking you to wait for us at our concert in Busan years ago. Thank you for coming today. I was worried about standing here again, but I'm grateful and happy to see you all." Jimin added, "ARMY, we finally meet. It's overwhelming and I'm thankful to be able to speak in front of you like this. I'm happy to be reunited with all seven of us. I missed you."
J-Hope and Jungkook addressed global fans in English. J-Hope said, "I can't believe all seven of us are on this stage together. Thank you for waiting." Jungkook added, "We prepared a lot of special things for today. We'll give it our all." RM, who often communicates in English, shared, "Look at this crowd. So many have come. It was a long journey, but we are finally here," expressing his emotions.
Why Gwanghwamun?
BTS chose Gwanghwamun Square, a historic location in Korea, for their comeback stage. Suga explained, "It's an honor to perform at Gwanghwamun, the most historic place in Korea. We wanted to capture our identity in this album, so we chose 'Arirang' as the title and decided to perform here." V added, "It's refreshing to make a comeback at such a special place. I hope our hearts reach the world today."
They also expressed gratitude to those who made the performance at Gwanghwamun possible. Jimin said, "Thank you to ARMY for filling Gwanghwamun. Thanks to everyone who helped us perform live at this special place." Suga added, "I want to thank the Seoul city officials and the police who worked hard on-site for allowing us to perform at Gwanghwamun."
Overcoming Injuries for the Comeback Live
BTS prepared not only new songs but also performances of their popular hits like 'Butter' and 'MIC DROP', which heightened the excitement. During Suga's part in 'MIC DROP', the crowd chanted "Sorry, Mom," and the iconic mic drop performance further energized the atmosphere.
Leader RM shared news of his injury a day before the comeback live on the 20th. As a result, RM performed seated and did not participate in the dance formations. However, he stood up whenever possible to interact with fans, moving around the stage during less intense choreography and sharing his heartfelt thoughts.
Facing Fears and 'Keep Swimming'
Standing on stage as a full group for the first time since their military service, BTS members shared their honest feelings. J-Hope confessed, "While preparing for this album, I wondered if we might have been forgotten, if you would remember us."
The members reflected on what choices to make at this turning point and what kind of artists and creators they wanted to be. RM said, "The answer was within us. Listening more to our own voices and candidly expressing our worries and wanderings was the goal." Suga added, "During the time we were paused, we thought about what we should keep and what we should change. Although we're still uncertain and anxious, we believe these emotions are part of us."
BTS chose to keep swimming forward. Jimin said, "We're not special people. We were scared while preparing, but we believe that if we keep swimming together, we'll eventually find the answer." V added, "What we can do is keep moving forward step by step. We'll continue to release music and perform. I hope this song brings comfort and strength to you," as they introduced their new song 'SWIM'.
Jungkook smiled brightly, saying, "It's thrilling and new, yet nerve-wracking. It's been so long, and it feels electrifying." He added, "This will be an unforgettable moment. I had fears and burdens about the comeback, but standing in front of you today, I'm just happy." V joked, "We've imagined this moment countless times. We've wanted to perform on stage for years, and seeing ARMY in front of us is truly moving. Please appear in my dreams tonight."
They also heightened anticipation for their upcoming concert in April. Jimin said, "We're working hard every day to prepare for the concert. In fact, RM got injured while doing so." RM expressed his regret, "It was a chance to show some extraordinary choreography." Suga humorously added, "I was expecting a triple twerking," eliciting laughter.
Jungkook promised, "The seven of us always share the same heart. As long as you're with us, we'll always do our best to create good music." RM also vowed, "No matter what happens, we promise to keep swimming together. Today is just the beginning."
BTS released their 5th studio album 'ARIRANG' on the afternoon of the 20th. It marks their first new release in 3 years and 9 months since June 2022. The album, produced by Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, includes 14 tracks, featuring the title song 'SWIM'. BTS has poured their genuine experiences and reflections from their journey into every track. They will embark on a world tour starting next month at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium, covering 34 cities with 82 shows.
Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr