"Why Gwanghwamun?"=Roots of BTS"...Netflix's 'BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG' Unprecedented Scale [synthesis]

*This content was translated by AI.

Global OTT platform Netflix will broadcast the group BTS's full comeback live globally (BTS, RM Jin Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V Jungkook).

On the morning of the 20th, a pre-media briefing for "BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG" was held at CineCube Gwanghwamun in Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Brandon Rigg, VP of Netflix nonfiction series and sports, executive producer Garrett English, VP of Big Hit Music Kim Hyun-jung, and APAC CEO of Hive Music Group attended.

BTS will release its new album "ARIRANG" at 1 p.m. that day and hold a large-scale free performance to commemorate its comeback at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul at 8 p.m. on the 21st. Police expect up to 260,000 people to attend the comeback performance. This is the largest since the 2002 World Cup street cheering.

The BTS members who went through "military hiatus" will finally return to us after releasing a total of 14 tracks, including their fifth full album "Arirang" and title song "SWIM," in three years and nine months. "SWIM" is an upbeat alternative pop genre that sings about the attitude of continuing without stopping in the waves of life. He released his will to swim calmly at his own pace with "love for life." RM participated in the overall lyrics and added depth to the song, and Chairman Bang Si-hyuk took over the overall production of the album to increase the completeness.

BTS, who debuted in June 2013, has released their third full-length album "LOVE YOURSELF 轉 "Tear," repackaged "LOVE YOURSELF 結 "Answer," their sixth mini-album "MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA," their sixth mini-album "MAP OF THE SOUL: 7," their sixth mini-album "BE," "Dynamite," "Life Goes On," their seventh mini-album "Butter," "Permission To Dance," "My Universe," 2022 "Proof," 2023 "Like Crazy." It swept the Billboard 200 chart and became a global top idol. BTS, which has broken legends in various fields such as charts, popularity, and popularity, is also called the "21st Century Beatles," a great pop figure, but as the gap has been large recently, global fans' expectations for their new news have soared to an all-time high.

"BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG" is meaningful in that it is the first live broadcast of Netflix's music performance and the first live event to be transmitted from Korea to the world. BTS' comeback stage, which begins in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, reaches viewers around the world through Netflix.

When asked how the collaboration took place between Netflix and Hive, VP Brandon League said, "I think it's an honor for Netflix to have a tremendous partnership with Hive. Our Netflix wants to entertain the world, and we thought such an event would definitely bring joy. We are happy to be able to deliver the event to countless ARMYs and viewers around the world by holding hands together," he said.

What is Netflix's vision for Korean content. Brandon VP said, "We have always been big fans of Korean content. We are happy to be able to deliver numerous contents such as "Squid Game" and "K-Pop Demon Hunters," he said. "This performance, a band called BTS, is meaningful. It's nice to have a great moment."

It is meaningful that we can be together in a historical space called Gwanghwamun. I think it's worth it to make things that BTS, ARMY, and BTS lovers come and experience. Many people think it's a good opportunity to experience K Culture and BTS," he said. "It's important to deliver the best moment on earth," he said. We also invested a lot in local infrastructure and collaborated closely. There is a variety of entertainment in the world we live in, and I think the unified things they share are insufficient. I want to deliver a moment that we must not miss. The BTS performance will be the biggest event on Netflix this year," he added.

Brandon VP said, "My homework for this performance was to hold events on a large scale in the middle of Seoul and in the city center. We had to satisfy not only the on-site fans but also the fans watching the live, he said. "I'm confident that it will be held without any problems like other live events with the expertise we've been doing so far."

When asked how to efficiently deliver the performance in the historic space of Gwanghwamun to fans around the world, producer Garrett said, "It was a great challenge for us and a very exciting process. We challenged how to show tradition and modernity well. We tried to show harmony in historical places, showing the vision that BTS has. I thought a lot about how to show the modern elements embodied by BTS while emphasizing the precious places such as Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung. I made sure this space was as dynamic a production as possible. It's an honor to be able to do this process together," he said.

Producer Garrett said, "It's really a huge performance on a huge scale. It's a huge scale, both creatively and operatively. Not only Hive and BTS, but also the Seoul government cooperated, so we were able to implement the concert hall well, he said. "Our task is to show the intimacy of BTS fans while showing how physically large this is." "We want to capture not only the seven members but also the close relationship with the fans. It will be a meaningful moment for us, for BTS, and for the fans," he said confidently.

Asked about the process of Hive's collaboration with Netflix, CEO Yoo Dong-joo said, "The most common question I received while preparing for this performance was, 'Why Gwanghwamun?' "I thought about what's BTS-like and what only BTS can do, and I thought this comeback was a historical moment," he said.

"Chairman Bang Si-hyuk said, 'Korea should be a symbolic place when BTS, who started in Korea and became a global star, makes a comeback again,'" he said. "Hive emphasized the vision of a 'fan experience.' "I think it's a very rare experience for fans, the public, Koreans, and foreigners to perform in an iconic place in Korea, and I think it's meaningful to spread it globally," he said.

"We thought Netflix was the most appropriate partner when it came to producing an iconic scene," he said. I think this performance we are hosting is not just a performance, but a historical event."

When asked what BTS wanted to convey to the public through this comeback live, VP Kim Hyun-jung said, "The BTS have talked about their feelings so far, but this time, too. During the production process, he thought about what kind of music he would make with the members, Bang Si-hyuk, and Big Hit music family, and the result is "Arirang." "Arirang" is an album that contains the roots of BTS. I hope this album will be enjoyed by all existing fans and people across generations," he said.

How did they work while coordinating their opinions with the members of the BTS? VP Kim Hyun-jung said, "When we always have a lot of meetings with Si-hyuk and Big Hit Music, and this Gwanghwamun project also held a lot of meetings and rehearsals to produce good results not only internally but also with Netflix officials. You can see the contents in the documentary," he said.

How does Netflix want its fans to enjoy this live. Brandon VP said, "Netflix is a global platform, so I want to make it feel like everyone is together. I want to make sure we feel like sharing moments and having the best experience on earth on social media and so on. I hope fans will enjoy this at the same time and share their excitement and joy."

Netflix also asked if there was a possibility of working with another Korean singer after this BTS collaboration. When we first thought of collaborating in Korea, there was nothing more than BTS, VP Brandon said. I want to give you something to experience by coming to Netflix only for a large pop culture. The moment we share with the world this time will be a moment we have not seen before. Various collaborations will continue after that. We will be able to see a large-scale exciting moment live in the future," he said.

"We paid a lot of attention to how to implement BTS' creativity on stage, and how to effectively deliver it live. It was important for us to share the atmosphere realized in the field to the world," he said.

When asked why Netflix continues to collaborate with South Korea, VP Brandon said, "Because we are big fans of Korean culture and entertainment. The whole world welcomed Korean culture and entertainment with open arms. We have naturally come to deliver Korean content that the world loves, he said. "Our investment in working infrastructure in Korea will continue to expand." "Artists like BTS and services like Netflix have joined hands, so it will provide the only experience," he added.

Producer Garrett said, "The scale is going to be unprecedentedly really big. I hope I never miss it. It will be a moment that will not be easy for the stage, the city of Seoul, and ARMY around the world," he said, expressing confidence.

Meanwhile, following the fever of "BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG," a documentary about BTS's comeback journey will be released on Netflix at 4 p.m. on the 27th. "BTS: The Return" is a documentary about the comeback journey of BTS who have come together after a long wait to complete their own music. The BTS, which has made history enjoying unprecedented global popularity since its debut in 2013, looks back on the past and sheds light on the process of preparing for the next chapter as an artist.

"BTS: The Return" was directed by Bao Nguyen, who directed the Netflix documentaries "Stringer: Who Took That Photo" and "The Greatest Night in Pop History." On top of that, this Machine, a global production company that produced "Martha" and "Carol G: Tomorrow's Words Beautiful," and Hive joined forces to closely capture BTS's comeback journey.

BTS will launch an urban project called "BTS THE CITY ARIRANG SEOUL" (hereinafter referred to as "The City Seoul") throughout downtown Seoul from the 20th to April 19. Visitors will experience the "scarcity of experience" that can only be felt at certain places and times while enjoying various programs held offline. This "The City Seoul" actively utilizes red, the key color of the new report "Arirang," to provide a variety of attractions. The drone show, which will embroider Sungnyemun and Namsan Seoul Tower's media facade and Ttukseom Hangang Park, is a major program that should not be missed on the 20th, the release date of the album.

BTS will appear on the popular NBC program "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" (hereinafter referred to as "The Jimmy Fallon Show") from the 25th to the 26th (local time). Seven members will visit the program as a whole for the first time in about four years and eight months since July 2021.

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*This content was translated by AI.