Through the Lens: Fans rejoice as BTS performs comeback concert in Seoul
A selection of striking photos from across Asia
MARCH 23, 2026
K-pop superstars BTS made their long-awaited return to the stage with their first concert in nearly four years, performing on March 21 at a major public square in Seoul before a huge crowd. The hour-long outdoor concert in Gwanghwamun Square was the official comeback for the group that helped make Korean pop music into a global phenomenon before going on hiatus in 2022 while members fulfilled mandatory military service.
The concert was streamed live on Netflix to audiences in 190 countries and included the first live performances of tracks from their new album, Arirang, released the day before. The seven-member group also energized fans with popular hits like "Butter" and "Dynamite."
A fan of K-pop band BTS from France, books tickets for the group’s first South Korea concert in years as part of a world tour, at a PC cafe in Seoul, on Jan. 22. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
A fan of K-pop band BTS from France, books tickets for the group’s first South Korea concert in years as part of a world tour, at a PC cafe in Seoul, on Jan. 22. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
Joanna from Philippines, left, a fan of K-pop band BTS, reacts on the phone with a friend after getting tickets for BTS’s first South Korea concert in years, as part of the group’s world tour, at a PC cafe in Seoul, on Jan. 22. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
Joanna from Philippines, left, a fan of K-pop band BTS, reacts on the phone with a friend after getting tickets for BTS’s first South Korea concert in years, as part of the group’s world tour, at a PC cafe in Seoul, on Jan. 22. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
Messages welcoming BTS fans are displayed on screens ahead of a comeback concert by K-pop group BTS at a shopping street in Seoul, on March 19. (Photo by Ahn Young-joon/AP)
Messages welcoming BTS fans are displayed on screens ahead of a comeback concert by K-pop group BTS at a shopping street in Seoul, on March 19. (Photo by Ahn Young-joon/AP)
Fans of K-pop group BTS pose for photographs with an advertisement promoting "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang" concert in central Seoul, on March 19. (Photo by Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters)
Fans of K-pop group BTS pose for photographs with an advertisement promoting "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang" concert in central Seoul, on March 19. (Photo by Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters)
A Mexican fan of K-pop group BTS takes a selfie during an event called”'Love Song Lounge” to promote its new album Arirang before “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert in central Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters)
A Mexican fan of K-pop group BTS takes a selfie during an event called”'Love Song Lounge” to promote its new album Arirang before “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert in central Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters)
A fan of Kpop boy band BTS, member of a fanbase known as ARMY, wears a T-shirt with BTS' new album logo "ARIRANG", in front of a department store ahead of the band's upcoming free comeback concert, "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang”, the band's first performance in more than three years since completing mandatory military service, in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters)
A fan of Kpop boy band BTS, member of a fanbase known as ARMY, wears a T-shirt with BTS' new album logo "ARIRANG", in front of a department store ahead of the band's upcoming free comeback concert, "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang”, the band's first performance in more than three years since completing mandatory military service, in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters)
Fans of K-pop boy band BTS browse BTS merchandise at a pop-up store ahead of the band's free comeback concert "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang,” its first performance in more than three years since members completed mandatory military service, in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
Fans of K-pop boy band BTS browse BTS merchandise at a pop-up store ahead of the band's free comeback concert "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang,” its first performance in more than three years since members completed mandatory military service, in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
Members of K-pop boy band BTS’ fanbase, known as the ARMY, queue to pay for merchandise at a pop-up store ahead of the band's free comeback concert "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang," its first performance in more than three years since members completed mandatory military service, in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
Members of K-pop boy band BTS’ fanbase, known as the ARMY, queue to pay for merchandise at a pop-up store ahead of the band's free comeback concert "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang," its first performance in more than three years since members completed mandatory military service, in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
Members of K-pop boy band BTS’s fanbase, known as the ARMY, photograph portraits of the group at a pop-up exhibition ahead of its free comeback concert "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang," its first performance in more than three years following their completion of mandatory military service, in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
Members of K-pop boy band BTS’s fanbase, known as the ARMY, photograph portraits of the group at a pop-up exhibition ahead of its free comeback concert "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang," its first performance in more than three years following their completion of mandatory military service, in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
A fan holds a portrait of a member of K‑pop group BTS as she waits for the “BTS Comeback Drone Light Show” ahead of the "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang" concert in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Hong‑Ji/Reuters)
A fan holds a portrait of a member of K‑pop group BTS as she waits for the “BTS Comeback Drone Light Show” ahead of the "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang" concert in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Hong‑Ji/Reuters)
Fans of K-pop boy band BTS wait for the start of the “BTS Comeback Drone Light Show” ahead K-pop boy band BTS's comeback concert in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
Fans of K-pop boy band BTS wait for the start of the “BTS Comeback Drone Light Show” ahead K-pop boy band BTS's comeback concert in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
Drones form the image of a K-pop boy band BTS member V during the “BTS Comeback Drone Light Show” ahead of the “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang" concert in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Hong‑Ji/Reuters)
Drones form the image of a K-pop boy band BTS member V during the “BTS Comeback Drone Light Show” ahead of the “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang" concert in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Hong‑Ji/Reuters)
A worker installs a Wi-Fi router at the temporarily restricted Gwanghwamun Square used for "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang" concert, K-pop boy band BTS' first performance in more than three years since its members completed their mandatory military service, the night before the concert in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
A worker installs a Wi-Fi router at the temporarily restricted Gwanghwamun Square used for "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang" concert, K-pop boy band BTS' first performance in more than three years since its members completed their mandatory military service, the night before the concert in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
Workers organize chairs at the temporarily restricted Gwanghwamun Square used for "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang" concert, K-pop boy band BTS' first performance in more than three years since members completed their mandatory military service, the night before the concert in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
Workers organize chairs at the temporarily restricted Gwanghwamun Square used for "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang" concert, K-pop boy band BTS' first performance in more than three years since members completed their mandatory military service, the night before the concert in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
A worker checks his watch while conducting a patrol at the temporarily restricted Gwanghwamun Square used for "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang" concert, K-pop boy band BTS' first performance in more than three years since members completed their mandatory military service, the night before the concert in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
A worker checks his watch while conducting a patrol at the temporarily restricted Gwanghwamun Square used for "BTS The Comeback Live Arirang" concert, K-pop boy band BTS' first performance in more than three years since members completed their mandatory military service, the night before the concert in Seoul, on March 20. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
Fans of K-pop group BTS, who were not able to get tickets to the “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert, wait outside the event’s venue, in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Hong‑Ji/Reuters)
Fans of K-pop group BTS, who were not able to get tickets to the “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert, wait outside the event’s venue, in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Hong‑Ji/Reuters)
Police officers patrol outside the venue of the “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert, in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
Police officers patrol outside the venue of the “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert, in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
A fan of K-pop group BTS, wearing photographs of the band's members, heads to the venue of the “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert, in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
A fan of K-pop group BTS, wearing photographs of the band's members, heads to the venue of the “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert, in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
A police officer works the area where fans of K-pop group BTS, who were not able to get tickets to the “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert, wait outside the ebent’s venue, in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Hong‑Ji/Reuters)
A police officer works the area where fans of K-pop group BTS, who were not able to get tickets to the “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert, wait outside the ebent’s venue, in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Hong‑Ji/Reuters)
Fans of K-pop boy band BTS wait for the start of the group’s comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
Fans of K-pop boy band BTS wait for the start of the group’s comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
Fans of K-pop group BTS cheer ahead of “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert as they wait near the concert venue, in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Hong‑Ji/Reuters)
Fans of K-pop group BTS cheer ahead of “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert as they wait near the concert venue, in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Hong‑Ji/Reuters)
Members of K-pop group BTS pose for photographs upon arrival for “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by BIGHIT MUSIC/Netflix/Reuters)
Members of K-pop group BTS pose for photographs upon arrival for “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by BIGHIT MUSIC/Netflix/Reuters)
Fans of K-pop boy band BTS cheer during the group’s comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
Fans of K-pop boy band BTS cheer during the group’s comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
K-pop group BTS perform during “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Hong‑Ji/Reuters)
K-pop group BTS perform during “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Hong‑Ji/Reuters)
Fans watch the “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert, in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
Fans watch the “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert, in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
Fans of K-pop group BTS hold BTS light sticks on the day of the “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
Fans of K-pop group BTS hold BTS light sticks on the day of the “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters)
Fans of K-pop group BTS hold up LED light sticks during “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Minwoo Park/Reuters)
Fans of K-pop group BTS hold up LED light sticks during “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Minwoo Park/Reuters)
K-pop boy band BTS performs onstage during a comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Min-Hee/Pool/Reuters)
K-pop boy band BTS performs onstage during a comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Min-Hee/Pool/Reuters)
K-pop group BTS performs during “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert in central Seoul, on March 21.(Photo by Kim Hong‑Ji/Reuters)
K-pop group BTS performs during “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert in central Seoul, on March 21.(Photo by Kim Hong‑Ji/Reuters)
K-pop group BTS performs during “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Hong‑Ji/Reuters)
K-pop group BTS performs during “BTS The Comeback Live Arirang” concert in central Seoul, on March 21. (Photo by Kim Hong‑Ji/Reuters)