BTS has become a global phenomenon, with the option to stage their long-awaited return anywhere in the world after nearly four years. Yet it chose Gwanghwamun — one of Korea’s most historically significant sites — a decision rooted in HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk’s belief in emphasizing the group’s origins.

“While preparing for this [Saturday’s] performance, the question that I got asked the most amount of times was ‘Why Gwanghwamun?’” said Brandon Yu, the President of HYBE Music Group APAC, during a news conference at Cinecube Gwanghwamun in central Seoul on Friday.


“And I think you know all I can say is that it really truly relates to the identity of BTS."

Yu added that Bang played a critical role in deciding the venue of the comeback performance in Gwanghwamun Square.

“Our chairman Bang has said that if we are focused on the identity of BTS being this band that was created and originated from Korea, which gave so much joy to the world and to many fans around the world, then this historical moment and it has to be in Korea and it also has to take place in the most iconic space in Korea.”

Live music performance “BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang” will be livestreamed on Netflix at 8 p.m. on Saturday, marking the platform’s first-ever live broadcast of a music performance in Korea. The event will be available globally in regions where the service operates.

Given the historic setting, Garret English, Executive Producer of the broadcast, said the core approach to the production was “harmony.”

“It is an immense challenge but a really exciting one that I think that we from our first conversations were very interested in building a connection between both a modern and historical context,” he said.

“You'll see that we have really tried to create a creative space for the band that accentuates its location in Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbok Palace, but also provides a modern context and a variable context for that as well to really celebrate not only the environment that we're in for the city of Seoul and for the world but also provide a really dynamic production surface to do that but all with the touchstone of making sure that it was in harmony with its space and in harmony with its historical reference which has been a real honor and a pleasure to navigate.”

Broadcasting a real-time live event is no easy feat. Netflix has previously staged livestreams, including “Skyscraper Live” in Taiwan this January, and acknowledged the challenges involved, noting that the BTS event will be the biggest live production scheduled this year.

“I'm not sure what's more intimidating, climbing a skyscraper or pleasing the BTS ARMY, but we're excited to tackle it,” Bradon Riegg, the Vice President for nonfiction series and sports at Netflix, said.

“I think there's a common thread between both. One is that we want to provide the greatest dreaming experience and a reliability and consistency of that and we've invested greatly in our infrastructure out here and have worked closely with our local partners, but really we view these live events as an opportunity to reach fans and members around the world in a way that is becoming increasingly tough to find singular events that really pull people together.”

Netflix shared that watch parties will be held around the world, allowing fans to gather in person and share the experience collectively. It expressed pride in collaborating with BTS and said it hopes the event will “set the bar for future musical performances” on the surface.

Riegg also hinted that there will be some extra jolts during the event, saying, “We have a few surprises up our sleeves.” However, he kept them under wraps, offering no additional details.

At 1 p.m. on Friday, BTS’s fifth full-length album “Arirang” was released, consisting of 14 tracks, including lead track "Swim," along with B-side tracks "Body to Body," "Hooligan," "Aliens," "FYA," "2.0," "No. 29," "Merry Go Round," "Normal," "Like Animals," "they don’t know ’bout us," "One More Night," "Please" and "Into the Sun."

The album marks the group’s first full-group release in three years and nine months, following the completion of mandatory military service by all seven members.

During the news conference, Nicole Kim, the Vice President at BigHit Music, explained the creative process behind the album.

“Up until now, all of the music that BTS has shared with the world is really about the stories that the band members wanted to tell, the messages that they wanted to convey through their music, and this album ‘Arirang’ is no exception,” Kim said. “[The album] is really about what the band members are currently feeling and the stories that they currently want to tell.”

She continued, “As you can tell from the word, Arirang, this is a concept that really started from the BTS members' identity and also from their roots. And because we want this message to be shared with as many people as possible around the world, you will notice that the members used both Korean and English.”

“We did that because we really want this story to be heard and shared with as many people around the world as possible. And so we truly believe that this new album is not only going to be a great treat for the existing fans of BTS who have known the band and loved them so much, but we also hope that this will really transcend generations and hope that it will reach and touch the hearts of those who have never heard of BTS before.”

The band is also set to release a Netflix documentary, titled “BTS: The Return,” on March 27. Directed by Bao Nguyen, the film captures and highlights the band’s comeback journey as they reunite after a long hiatus, documenting the process of creating and completing their music.

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]