The Korea Times
On an ordinary workday, Gwanghwamun moves with quiet precision. Office workers pass through the streets without lingering. Tourists pause to take photos near Cheonggye Stream and Gyeongbok Palace. Traffic loops through an area designed for continuity and movement — a space designed less for spectacle than for function. That cadence began to shift in the days leading up to K-pop phenomenon BTS’ long-awaited comeback concert. Barricades appeared, access became increasingly limited, and police presence was heightened throughout the city. By the day of the concert, roads and subway stations were closed, pedestrian movement was restricted, and tens of thousands of safety personnel had been deployed throughout central Seoul. What unfolded that evening was not simply staged — it was managed. And yet, when the group’s anticipated performance began, the outcome did not follow a familiar script. According to reports, crowd turnout fell well short of the expected 260,000 fans from around the world. Nearby businesses that had prepared for the surge of visitors encountered the opposite, with
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