Seoul has not seen a crowd like this since the 2002 World Cup. Here is what to expect and how to get through the night in one piece.
BTS' comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21 is expected to draw up to 260,000 people into the area around the historic square. Authorities have spent weeks planning for the scale of it, and the security and traffic setup is as detailed as any major international event. If you are going, or even just nearby, knowing what is coming will save you a lot of time and frustration.
The entire viewing area from Gwanghwamun to Seoul City Hall will be sealed off with fences and 31 designated entry gates, making it function like a stadium. Access is only through those gates. Metal detectors will be installed at all of them, and bag checks begin at 7 a.m. on concert day. Authorities are specifically asking visitors to bring as little as possible. Most buildings surrounding the viewing zone will also be closed to stop people accessing rooftops.
Police will monitor crowd density in real time and may stop entry if specific areas become too full. The city is installing 2,399 public and portable toilets around the event area.
On the roads, major closures are coming. A section of Sejong-daero between Gwanghwamun and City Hall intersections closes from 9 p.m. on March 20 and does not reopen until 6 a.m. on March 22. Sajik-ro and Yulgok-ro close from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on concert night. Parts of Jongno and Saemunan-ro between Four Seasons Seoul and Seorin Intersection close from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. If you are driving anywhere near central Seoul that evening, plan a different route.
After the show ends, expect significant congestion around nearby subway stations. Police said they may instruct trains to skip Euljiro 1-ga Station on Line 2, Jonggak Station on Line 1, and Anguk Station on Line 3 if platforms get too crowded. The advice is to move away from the immediate area before attempting to board. For updated transport information, check www.seoulmetro.co.kr.
Officers will also be pre-positioned in Itaewon, Hongdae and Seongsu-dong in anticipation of concertgoers heading to those areas after the show.
The concert starts at 8 p.m. and streams live on Netflix worldwide. If you have a ticket, get there early, travel light, and check the road closures before you leave. If you do not have a ticket, the viewing area screens and nearby spots should still give you something to remember.