CNN "BTS Gwanghwamun Performance, Milestone Declaring K Culture to Be World Master"...External Reaction [K-EYES]

*This content was translated by AI.

About 200,000 people filled the Gwanghwamun area at the BTS BTS comeback performance held in Gwanghwamun, Seoul on the night of the 21st. CNN recorded it as "the largest free public concert ever in Korea," and the Associated Press reported it as "the largest public gathering since the 2002 World Cup." Major foreign media around the world, including the Hollywood Reporter, Bloomberg, and NPR, mobilized all correspondents and reporters to report on the scene before and after the performance.

The Hollywood Reporter noted the scale of the production of the show. A total of 23 cameras were mobilized for the live broadcast, and more than 1,000 local and overseas production experts were deployed this time, unlike the need for hundreds of crew members for general arena performances. Hamish Hamilton, a British live television master who has been in charge of the Super Bowl halftime show and the Oscars dozens of times, directed the show.

"It's one of the most challenging productions in terms of sheer logistical complexity," Hamilton told CNN. The stage design was designed with the concept of a "picture frame" and was "to honor the historical and cultural significance of Gwanghwamun at the same time while containing the modern energy of BTS." Hamilton added, "I didn't want to drop a concert in the middle of Seoul's holiest space that didn't match that place."

Netflix VP Brandon League told The Hollywood Reporter, "It's hard to imagine it's bigger than just BTS. It will be the biggest event in terms of Netflix's live ambition this year," he said. Reuters said the league expressed strong motivation for additional live events, saying, "There will be many opportunities to cooperate with other artists and labels in Korea and Asia in general."

AP News Agency Onsite Report "Even Italian and Polish fans came."

The Associated Press vividly conveyed the atmosphere of Gwanghwamun, which had been heated even before the performance, through an on-site report. Dalira di Tulio, a 32-year-old fan from Italy, said, "I haven't been with BTS for too long. This is a once-in-a-century event," said Marta Corona, a 25-year-old fan from Poland, "I got to see BTS in person for the first time since the London performance in 2019. I'm really looking forward to it," he said. The Associated Press reported that the performance was held as a "mobilization system equivalent to a large national event," with thousands of police blocking central Gwanghwamun Boulevard and even installing metal detectors.

Bloomberg reported days before the performance, "South Korean authorities, which have become more sensitive to crowd safety since the Itaewon disaster in 2022, have launched the largest crowd control plan ever." In fact, about 6,000 police officers and 4,000 Hive HYBE security personnel were mobilized, and Sejong University between Gwanghwamun and Seoul City Hall was completely controlled until 6 a.m. on Sunday.

"Gwanghwamun was already meaningful even before the concert."

The Hollywood Reporter highlighted the historical weight of the venue itself. There has never been a K-pop concert in Gwanghwamun Square before. This is because it was a place of great historical and political significance. Billboard analyzed that BTS' choice of a route from inside Gyeongbokgung Palace to passing through Gwanghwamun to the stage is "a symbolic journey from Korea's dynastic past to a modern public square."

CNN has delved deeper into the cultural context. "In an era when hanbok is a trend, and young Koreans rediscover and redefine their cultural heritage, BTS' return to Gwanghwamun was not just a comeback. It was a cultural milestone that declared the era when K Culture became the leading player on the world stage," he said. "Many Korean groups fail to maintain their identity in the rapidly changing pop culture landscape after serving in the military and go down the path of dissolution. In that sense, this performance was a declaration."

"This is the comeback of the century," Professor Lee Hye-jin of USC Annenberg School of Communication told CNN. "It is an interesting moment for members who have been solo to see how the BTS fandom itself has changed after returning to the group."

"BTS 2.0 just started"

The Hollywood Reporter delivered the members' remarks during the performance. J-Hope declared, "BTS 2.0 has just begun" after the "Normal" stage, and Jin (33), the eldest brother, said, "Thank you for waiting, ARMY." The performance ended with the smash hit "Dynamite" and encore song "Mikrokosmos," and the crowd became energized and shook with the group the moment "Mikrokosmos" rang out.

Meanwhile, RM suffered an ankle injury during rehearsals and stood on stage without fierce choreography. The Hollywood Reporter said RM was with the scene where he walked out to the center when other members danced or seven people stood together and communicated with fans as much as possible.

The economic effect is also "Taylor Swift-class."

CNN and Bloomberg also highlighted the economic impact of this comeback. Citing IBK Investment & Securities analyst Kim Yoo-hyuk, the BTS comeback is estimated to generate at least 2.9 trillion won (about $1.93 billion) in economic effects, which is comparable to the Taylor Swift Eras Tour (about $2 billion). NPR reported that 2.4 million tickets have already been sold out for the world tour alone. According to Reuters, the number of foreign arrivals to South Korea increased 33% year-on-year this month.

BTS will continue its global comeback by appearing on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" for two consecutive days from the 25th to the 26th. On April 9, starting with Goyang Stadium, the 82nd world tour "Arirang" will begin in earnest in 34 cities in 23 countries.

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*This content was translated by AI.