BTS comeback D-42: Seoul tells fans to travel light or risk missing the show

by Kim Dong-young Posted : February 7, 2026, 13:24Updated : February 7, 2026, 13:24
Image generated by ChatGPT
Image generated by ChatGPT
 
SEOUL, February 07 (AJP) - With BTS's historic comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square just six weeks away, Seoul authorities and transit operators are urging the hundreds of thousands of fans expected to descend on the capital to ditch their suitcases before heading to the venue.

Organizers are expecting about 15,000 for the square, with an additional 13,000 to watch on large screens at Seoul Plaza. Industry observers, however, estimate that as many as 200,000 people could flood the surrounding area on March 21, when the septet takes the stage for the first time in nearly four years to celebrate the release of their fifth studio album, "Arirang."

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is directing concertgoers — particularly those arriving from regional cities and abroad — to store bulky luggage at transit hubs such as Seoul Station, Suseo Station and Yongsan Station before making their way to the venue.

Smart lockers at subway stations across the city can be reserved through the T Locker app, which covers more than 5,500 units at 269 stations on Lines 1 through 9, allowing users to check real-time availability, book and pay via mobile.

Officials recommend that fans spread their belongings across nearby stations, including Jonggak, Seodaemun, Gyeongbokgung and Seoul City Hall, to avoid a rush on lockers closest to the square.

Authorities warned that storage units at stations adjacent to the venue are likely to fill up early in the day. Reservations left unclaimed within two hours are automatically canceled without a refund, making last-minute booking essential. Staffed luggage counters operated by T Luggage at major rail terminals offer an alternative, though most close by 10 p.m.

The concert, titled " THE COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG," will be livestreamed globally on Netflix to more than 190 countries starting at 8 p.m. Directed by Hamish Hamilton, who has helmed multiple Super Bowl halftime shows, the production will feature 50 dancers and 13 traditional musicians performing against the backdrop of the illuminated Gwanghwamun.

Seoul's transit authority has not ruled out bypassing Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5 without stopping if passenger congestion reaches critical levels, a measure previously deployed during large-scale rallies in the capital.

Fans are advised to consider alighting one stop early — at Jonggak, Seodaemun or Gyeongbokgung — and walking to the square to avoid bottlenecks underground.
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