Photos show Seoul as K-pop group BTS stages its comeback show
Fans of K-pop band BTS, South Korean Chaemin Shin, left, and Vietnamese Tam Tamie, right, and sing at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — K-pop giants BTS are back.
A free concert on Saturday night in Seoul drew tens of thousands of fans from around the world.
The city’s skyscrapers glowed with BTS advertisements as the city washed itself in purple, welcoming a legion of global supporters who call themselves the “Army.”
Yumika Ueno, a Japanese fan of K-pop band BTS, poses for a photo with her painted nails showing the names of BTS members at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Yumika Ueno, a Japanese fan of K-pop band BTS, poses for a photo with her painted nails showing the names of BTS members at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
A screen promoting a comeback concert of K-pop boy group BTS is seen near Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
A screen promoting a comeback concert of K-pop boy group BTS is seen near Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Aradith Gabriel from Mexico, a fan of K-pop band BTS, shows a photo of the BTS members, one of the goods and gifts she brought to exchange with fans from around the world ahead of the comeback concert of K-pop band BTS in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Aradith Gabriel from Mexico, a fan of K-pop band BTS, shows a photo of the BTS members, one of the goods and gifts she brought to exchange with fans from around the world ahead of the comeback concert of K-pop band BTS in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Fans of K-pop band BTS, Taylis Fahel, left, and Daniele Favero, right, from Brazil, take a selfie near a stage for the comeback concert of K-pop band BTS at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Fans of K-pop band BTS, Taylis Fahel, left, and Daniele Favero, right, from Brazil, take a selfie near a stage for the comeback concert of K-pop band BTS at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Messages welcoming BTS fans are displayed on screens ahead of a comeback concert of K-pop group BTS at a shopping street in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Messages welcoming BTS fans are displayed on screens ahead of a comeback concert of K-pop group BTS at a shopping street in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
People gather ahead of a comeback concert of K-pop band BTS at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
People gather ahead of a comeback concert of K-pop band BTS at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
People pass by a banner for BTS ahead of a comeback concert of the K-pop band near Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
People pass by a banner for BTS ahead of a comeback concert of the K-pop band near Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Drones light up the night sky during a drone light show to celebrate the comeback of the K-pop band BTS at a park along the Han River in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Drones light up the night sky during a drone light show to celebrate the comeback of the K-pop band BTS at a park along the Han River in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Japanese fans of K-pop band BTS before a drone light show to celebrate the comeback of the K-pop band BTS at a park along the Han River in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Japanese fans of K-pop band BTS before a drone light show to celebrate the comeback of the K-pop band BTS at a park along the Han River in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Fans react during a comeback concert of K-pop band BTS near Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Fans react during a comeback concert of K-pop band BTS near Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
K-pop boy band BTS perform onstage during comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21, 2026 in Seoul, South Korea. (Kim Min-Hee/Pool Photo via AP)
K-pop boy band BTS perform onstage during comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21, 2026 in Seoul, South Korea. (Kim Min-Hee/Pool Photo via AP)
Kpop group BTS waves at the end of their ‘BTS The Comeback Live Arirang’ concert in central Seoul, South Korea, March 21, 2026. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)
Kpop group BTS waves at the end of their ‘BTS The Comeback Live Arirang’ concert in central Seoul, South Korea, March 21, 2026. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)
The group’s comeback follows a nearly four-year hiatus due to South Korea’s mandatory military service, which requires most men to serve 18 to 21 months. Members began enlisting in 2022, with Suga the last to complete his service in June 2025.
