In Seoul's symbolic protest square, BTS fans welcome K-pop group's grand comeback

BTS returns to Seoul with a powerful comeback concert at Gyeongbokgung, uniting fans who once protested with ARMY lightsticks during South Korea’s political unrest.

Through months of winter protests in support of South Korean democracy, Professor Lee Ji-young clutched her K-pop glowstick – a small but telling sign of her love for K-pop megastars BTS.

Now the world's biggest boy band is set for a comeback concert on Saturday (Mar 21) after a nearly four-year hiatus for the septet to complete military service – and while the nation went through traumatic times.

"It feels like they've come back to reclaim their rightful place," said Sung Young-rok, 45, a BTS fan and traditional Korean artist, ahead of the open-air concert at Gwanghwamun Square expected to draw 260,000 people to Seoul.

In late 2024, in a wealthy nation where democracy was thought to be well-anchored, then-president Yoon Suk Yeol shocked the world by trying to declare martial law, sending troops and helicopters to parliament.

His bid failed – Yoon is now in jail – but for a few tense hours it was touch-and-go.