BTS won't be rehearsing at Gwanghwamun Square before their March 21 concert — and there are good reasons for that.
According to local media reports, the group will hold their pre-concert rehearsals at a separate off-site location rather than the actual performance venue. The decision comes down to two main concerns: security and surprise. Gwanghwamun Square is an open public space, which means any rehearsal held there could expose the show's set list, stage layout, and new songs to fans or passers-by well before the concert night. With BTS releasing their fifth LP "Arirang" on March 20 — just one day before the show — keeping the production details under wraps appears to be a priority.
Safety is the other factor. The scale of what's being planned around the concert is significant. Authorities expect around 260,000 people to gather in the area on March 21. The venue itself will accommodate approximately 22,000 fans across three sections — standing, reserved seating, and additional seating — stretching roughly one kilometer from the Gwanghwamun intersection toward City Hall Station. Around 4,800 police personnel will be deployed, including mobile units and special forces stationed to respond to potential threats. A further 56 officers will be watching specifically for ticket scalping on site.
Noise concerns in the surrounding area were also cited as part of the decision to move rehearsals elsewhere. The off-site location is expected to replicate the actual concert setup as closely as possible so the production quality isn't affected by the change.
The March 21 concert marks BTS's first full-group performance in more than three years, following the completion of the members' military enlistments. It also makes BTS the first K-pop act to hold an exclusive live performance at Gwanghwamun, one of Seoul's most historic landmarks. The show will be livestreamed on Netflix worldwide — the first time a single act has performed live on the platform.
President Lee Jae Myung, in a meeting with aides the day before the rehearsal news broke, instructed officials to prepare thorough crowd-control measures given the expected turnout. The concert has drawn attention not just from fans but from city and national authorities, reflecting the sheer scale of what's been planned around BTS's return.
For fans who had hoped to catch a glimpse of the group at Gwanghwamun before showtime, the off-site rehearsal puts that to rest. The full experience, it seems, is being saved for the night itself.