"Decisive PR" vs" BTS' Gwanghwamun concert left a hot topic [the context of Yun Sang-geun]

*This content was translated by AI.

BTS's comeback performance in Gwanghwamun (hereinafter referred to as BTS, RM Jin Jimin, J-Hope, Sugar V, Jungkook) will be held on a scale equivalent to a national event, complete with a short but intense event that announced Korea to the world.

Various eyes and evaluations are pouring in from various angles over this performance. President Lee Jae-myung also evaluated the economic effect created by the biggest issue in the music industry called "BTS Comeback," saying, "It seems to have been decisive in promoting Gwanghwamun and Korea." Gwanghwamun and Myeong-dong area attracted nearly 100,000 floating people, and the distribution industry enjoyed a special experience for the first time in a long time. Netflix invited VIPs to a five-star hotel near the venue to watch the performance together and broadcast live with 164 tons of performance equipment, attracting 18.4 million viewers.

There are also a number of unfavorable eyes. The "BTS Comeback" was a burden for those who prepared for events where a large number of people gathered, such as weddings, on the same day. There is also a heated debate over whether it was appropriate for citizens who were not involved in the performance to be inspected and searched for ironclad security reasons. Some sarcastically responded to the scale of the event, saying, "What is BTS?" This is something that BTS and its agency HYBE cannot overlook.

From those who visited the concert hall for the BTS comeback performance to the existing floating population. The increase in sales of convenience stores and restaurant companies they led is also confirmed by figures.

CU said on the 21st that sales at 10 stores near Gwanghwamun rose 270.9% compared to the previous week, adding, "The sales of the three stores on the side of the boulevard closest to the concert hall increased 547.8%. GS25 also said sales at five stores near Gwanghwamun rose 233.1% and 181.2% from the same day before, while 7-Eleven and E-Mart also reported that sales of household goods such as batteries needed for the use of instant food and light sticks increased.

Shinsegae Department Store's headquarters, which is close to the Gwanghwamun concert hall, also explained that sales increased 41% year-on-year on the 20th and 21st, especially in the instant cooking and dessert sectors, which increased 184% and 182%, respectively. Sales of Shinsegae Duty Free's Myeong-dong branch's "K-Wave Zone" also increased by 50% compared to the previous week, and the influx of foreign tourists also increased. Lotte Duty Free's Myeong-dong headquarters also saw a 16% increase in visitors to "Star Avenue," a Hallyu star experience space, compared to the average in March.

The taxi industry also benefited from the BTS special in its partnership with Hive. According to Kakao Mobility on the 24th, the number of taxi operations completed by K-Ride jumped 34% on average over the past three days from the 20th to the 22nd compared to the same period last week (13th to 15th), and the number of operations completed on the 21st rose 31% compared to the previous week, breaking the record for a single standard since the launch of the service. Kakao T also saw a 20% increase in the number of completed operations compared to the same period last week.

The distribution industry responded positively, saying that the effect of the ever event linked to K Culture was completed as an example of "BTSnomics."

The Itaewon disaster in 2022 had a big impact on the background of the police and the Seoul Metropolitan Government's policy of blocking sources in some areas. Given that it is difficult to predict when and where the risk of bottlenecks or crushing will occur in the face of a large crowd, analysts say that the BTS Gwanghwamun performance was also held in thorough preparation.

In order to prevent accidents, preemptive and intensive responses should be taken. As awareness of safety management has increased since the Itaewon disaster, the rationale is that everyone should be nervous and prepared. Fortunately, this performance ended well without any major problems.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said in an on-site inspection briefing held at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 19th and on the roof of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, "All preparations are in progress from preparation for terrorism. We will be ready to enjoy all the BTS comeback performances together in a festive atmosphere with confidence, he said.

"We installed 126 mobile toilets around the concert hall, opened 70 surrounding buildings, and secured a total of 2,551 toilets. In the event of an unexpected accident or problem, 15 medical facilities will be operated at the site, and a mobile intensive care unit (SMICU) will be operated in particular, he stressed.

However, even if they were not performers, they had to go through a body search. Since all nearby subway stations passed without stopping, the subway stations, which are quite far from Gwanghwamun Station, were already crowded, and metal detectors and body searches were essential to enter the Gwanghwamun Square area. In fact, about 31 gates installed along the fence were equipped with gate-type metal detectors to search for dangerous goods. In addition, police conducted physical and belongings inspections at the scene.

Complaints have also been raised that civil servants have been virtually forced to attend private events due to "ironclad security." A netizen, who is believed to be a Seoul City Hall official, posted a message to the effect that "BTS is saying something and why are they taking away my holiday?"

In this regard, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said, "There were 350 city officials who were deployed as safety management personnel on the day of the performance, of which more than 60% were applicants for advance recruitment. However, about 130 people who did not wish to be included, and they were either from a department with high work relevance or were recruited one employee from about 120 departments, he explained.

Although it is said to be a national event, it is pointed out that excessive control near private performance halls has blocked road traffic, and citizens have had to bear inconvenience due to non-stop subway passage and bypassing city buses. Some business districts outside Gwanghwamun and some restaurants said they had rather lost money.

"I don't understand why the central office is performing because there is no place in the world to perform. If I were you, I would have done it in a large space like Saemangeum in Jeollabuk-do. It is said that 6,500 police officers will be mobilized, but will they protect six singers. They're no joke. I don't know what the lyrics are or what songs they're singing."

These were the words that Kim Jang-hwan, chairman of Far East Broadcasting, poured out during his Thursday breakfast sermon on the 20th, referring to BTS' Gwanghwamun performance.

The remarks sparked considerable controversy in themselves. Immediately, the Far East Broadcasting Labor Union criticized, "Popular culture hatred is not the gospel," adding, "It did not fully consider the status of K-pop and BTS, which have expanded globally."

Since its debut in 2013, BTS has been reborn as a global artist amid praise as the "21st Century Beatles" and has established its position as an idol star that the world is paying attention to. In this situation, someone's occasional gaze may sometimes feel painful or unfortunate.

Chairman Kim Jang-hwan's remarks are also interpreted as a result of differences in perception of the meaning and role of popular singers rather than criticism targeting specific groups. There is also a possibility that it is a difference in gaze arising from the gap between generations. If an idol is recognized as just a "dancing performer," it may be an argument that can be sympathized to some extent, but considering the role of the singer and the current trend in which the boundaries are clear, it is controversial.

Although BTS, which stands tall as a vanguard of K-pop, is widely considered to be contributing to the promotion of Korea's national prestige, there are also voices saying, "It's good to promote national prestige, but I hope you do domestic activities," looking at the reality of "all-in" on the world tour rather than domestic activities. There is no disagreement that BTS is a global star, but it is also the reason why the answer to the question, "Is it a national singer?" becomes ambiguous.

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*This content was translated by AI.