방탄소년단, 서울 광화문에서 대망의 귀환을 기념하는 콘서트BTS stages concert in Seoul's Gwanghwamun t

[정승남세기영어교육연구회장]

방탄소년단, 서울 광화문에서 대망의 귀환을 기념하는 콘서트 개최

(LEAD) BTS stages concert in Seoul's Gwanghwamun to mark long-awaited return

[BTS 컴백] BTS 5집 차트 돌풍…스포티파이 글로벌 1~14위 싹쓸이

발매 당일 약 400만장 팔려…국내 음원차트도 1위 직행

Shim Sun-ah K-pop 23:27 March 21, 2026 Yonhap News

https://youtu.be/c3LAxT2jPRQ?si=Yd16teYItOUwQTY-

https://www.youtube.com/live/2WAxw6O6sgo?si=3JSxVEMe8c8q9v6h

[🟣현장] "아리랑" 떼창 전율...BTS 완전체/컴백 공연 하이라이트 독점 영상/2026년 3월 21일(토)/KBS

K-팝의 상징 BTS가 3년 9개월 만에 완전체로 무대에 오른 역사적 순간, 광화문은 초대형 공연장으로 변했습니다.전 세계 팬들이 서울 도심에서 보랏빛 응원봉을 흔드는 장관 속에 새 역사를 썼습니다.BTS 컴백 공연 하이라이트를 영상으로 준비했습니다.#BTS #ARIRANG #SW...

www.youtube.com

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with concert; ADDS photos)
​
By Shim Sun-ah
​
SEOUL, March 21 (Yonhap) -- K-pop megastar BTS held its first full-group concert in Seoul on Saturday since all members completed their mandatory military service, drawing fans from around the world to the heart of the South Korean capital.
​
The seven members delivered the first live performance of key tracks of its fifth studio album, "Arirang," released on Friday, at Gwanghwamun Square.
​

K-pop group BTS performs during a free comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on March 21, 2026. (Yonhap)
​
The record is the first group release from the band in three years and nine months, following "Proof" in June 2022. After the release, the members took a break from its group projects with a promise to reunite as a full group after all its member complete their mandatory military duty.
​
The one-hour show opened with approximately 50 traditional Korean dancers in black costumes lining the "woldae," a ceremonial stage in front of Gyeongbok Palace's main gate. As the performers split into two groups, the seven members revealed themselves on a stage at the northern end of the square, drawing enthusiastic cheers from thousands of fans who crowded the venue.
​
According to the group's agency, BigHit Music, the members wore costumes inspired by the armor of Korean generals from the early Joseon era (1392-1910).
​

This photo provided by BigHit Music and Netflix shows K-pop supergroup BTS performing at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on March 21, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
​

A dense crowd of K-pop fans gathers at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul to attend a free outdoor concert to mark the release of BTS' fifth studio album, "Arirang." (Yonhap)
​
The performance, which the agency described as a fusion of Korean traditional heritage and contemporary music, used the Gwanghwamun gate as a centerpiece. The agency noted that the album "Arirang" is intended to capture the identity of BTS as a group that began in Korea.
​
The gate remained visible behind an open, cube-shaped stage designed to resemble a picture frame.
​
Drawing attention was the group's official light stick, the "ARMY Bomb," which synchronized in real time with the stage visuals. The device bathed the entire venue in unified waves of color as LED screens, a light projection show on the cube-shaped stage and the gate behind, and the lights from fans' sticks moved in unison.
​

K-pop giant BTS performs during a concert held at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on March 21, 2026, to mark the release of its fifth studio album, "Arirang." (Yonhap)
​
Streamed live globally on Netflix, the concert featured a 12-song setlist. This included global hits "Butter" and "Dynamite," alongside eight tracks from the new album. The band performed another hit, "Mikrokosmos," as an encore song.
​
The return to the stage was an emotional milestone for the members.
"It still doesn't feel real that we're back together as a group," member V told the cheering crowd after a set that included "MIC Drop."
​

K-pop group BTS performs during a free comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on March 21, 2026. (Pool Photo) (Yonhap)
​
Jungkook admitted to feeling the weight of the comeback. "I definitely felt some pressure, but being here in front of you all, it feels great," he said.
​
Other members also spoke candidly about the hiatus.
​
J-Hope confessed to worries that the group "might be slightly forgotten" during its absence, while Suga noted the band spent significant time "thinking about what we should hold onto, and what we need to change."
​
"We are still not completely sure and still feel anxious at times, but I think even those emotions are a part of who we are right now," Suga said.
​
Group leader RM, who performed much of the show while seated due to an ankle injury sustained during rehearsal, looked out at the audience to mark the moment. "It's been a long journey, but we've finally made it here," he said.
Police initially expected the concert to draw approximately 260,000 people, including 22,000 ticket holders, but authorities later estimated that 48,000 fans attended the event. Hybe, the parent company of BigHit, estimated the crowd at 104,000 people.
​

K-pop group BTS performs during a free comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on March 21, 2026. (Pool Photo) (Yonhap)
​

Fans hold up light sticks while watching a live performance by K-pop giant BTS at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on March 21, 2026. The free concert was held to celebrate the release of the group's fifth studio album, "Arirang." (Yonhap)
​
sshim@yna.co.kr
​
(END)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[BTS 컴백] BTS 5집 차트 돌풍…스포티파이 글로벌 1~14위 싹쓸이(종합)

송고2026-03-21 23:52 이태수기자 김선우기자 연합뉴스

발매 당일 약 400만장 팔려…국내 음원차트도 1위 직행

그룹 방탄소년단

[빅히트 뮤직 제공. 재판매 및 DB 금지]

(서울=연합뉴스) 이태수 김선우 기자 = 그룹 방탄소년단(BTS)이 3년 9개월 만에 발표한 5집 '아리랑'(ARIRANG)이 세계 음원 플랫폼 스포티파이에서 차트 '줄세우기'를 하며 돌풍을 일으켰다.

21일 스포티파이에 따르면 5집은 글로벌 '데일리 톱 송' 차트에서 타이틀곡 '스윔'(SWIM)이 1위를 차지했으며 수록곡 전곡이 14위까지 싹쓸이했다.

미국 '데일리 톱 송' 차트에서도 '스윔' 1위, '보디 투 보디'(Body to Body) 2위, '훌리건'(Hooligan) 6위 등 30위 이내에 전곡이 진입했다.

방탄소년단(BTS) 광화문 공연

(서울=연합뉴스) 그룹 방탄소년단(BTS)이 21일 서울 광화문 광장에서 정규 5집 '아리랑'(ARIRANG) 발매를 기념해 무료 공연 'BTS 컴백 라이브: 아리랑'(BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE｜ARIRANG)을 열고 있다. 2026.3.21 [사진공동취재단] photo@yna.co.kr

앨범 판매량도 자체 기록을 경신했다.

소속사 빅히트 뮤직에 따르면 전날 오후 1시 발매된 정규 5집 '아리랑'은 발매 당일 398만장 판매됐다.

이전까지 방탄소년단의 발매 첫 주 판매량 최고 기록은 2020년 2월 정규 4집 '맵 오브 더 소울 : 7'(MAP OF THE SOUL : 7)이 세운 337만장이었다. 5집은 하루 판매량으로 이 수치를 가뿐히 뛰어넘으며 자체 최고 기록을 냈다.

5집은 또한 이탈리아, 멕시코, 스웨덴 등 전 세계 88개국(지역) 아이튠즈 '톱 앨범' 차트 1위에도 올랐다.

'스윔'은 21일 오전 9시까지 미국, 일본, 영국, 독일, 프랑스 등 90개국(지역) 아이튠즈 '톱 송' 정상을 휩쓸었다.

이 곡은 국내 음원차트 멜론, 벅스에서도 실시간 차트 1위로 직행했으며 멜론에서는 앨범 전곡이 '톱 100'에 진입했다.

5집은 방탄소년단의 정체성과 이들이 마주한 보편적인 감정을 다룬 앨범이다. '스윔'은 삶의 파도 속에서 멈추지 않고 계속 헤엄쳐 나아가는 자세를 담은 곡이다.

방탄소년단(BTS) 광화문 컴백 공연

(서울=연합뉴스) 그룹 방탄소년단(BTS)이 21일 서울 광화문 광장에서 정규 5집 '아리랑'(ARIRANG) 발매를 기념해 무료 공연 'BTS 컴백 라이브: 아리랑'(BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE｜ARIRANG)을 열고 있다. 2026.3.21 [사진공동취재단] photo@yna.co.kr

sunwoo@yna.co.kr

21세기 영어교육연구회 / ㈜ 파우스트 칼리지

Phone : (02)386-4802 / (02)384-3348

E-mail : faustcollege@naver.com / ceta211@naver.com

Twitter : http://twitter.com/ceta21

Web-site : www.faustcollege.com (주)파우스트 칼리지

Cafe : http://cafe.daum.net/21ceta 21세기 영어교육연구회

Band : http://band.us/@ceta21 21세기 영어교육연구회

Blog : http://blog.naver.com/ceta211 21세기 영어교육연구회