Audience members wait to enter Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul for BTS’ comeback performance on Saturday. (The Korea Herald/ Lee Sang-sub)
The crowd in central Seoul continued to swell on Saturday as fans gathered at Gwanghwamun Square for BTS’ long-awaited comeback concert, prompting authorities to maintain extensive safety inspections and traffic control throughout the district.
As of 4 p.m., the Seoul Metropolitan Government and police reported between 26,000 and 28,000 people on site — a 23.8 percent increase from three hours earlier. Despite the rise, authorities assessed overall congestion levels as “manageable.”
Despite early-morning temperatures dropping to 2 degrees Celsius, groups of fans waited outside convenience stores, inside 24-hour cafes and along nearby streets from late Friday night to secure a spot as close as possible to the stage.
Some arrived after work, while others traveled from university campuses or other parts of the city in the early hours. Many stayed awake through the night, bundled in layers of clothing and carrying portable chargers, blankets and warm drinks as they shared their sense of anticipation with fellow fans from around the world.
Foreign fans line up at a coffee shop advertised by V, a member of BTS, at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, ahead of the group’s free comeback show, “BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang.” (The Korea Herald/ Lee Sang-sub)
Police reported that some pedestrians attempting to pass through the fenced areas were stopped after metal detectors flagged kitchen knives and small blades in their bags.
One individual was found carrying a chef’s knife, later confirmed to be a professional cook on the way to work. In another case earlier in the morning, a group was stopped while attempting to walk through with a fruit knife in a backpack, leading to a brief dispute as they insisted it was for legitimate use. At multiple gates, scissors, lighters and other small metal items detected by the devices were confiscated at inspection tables.
The police noted that the metal detectors were calibrated to detect even small metallic objects.
Safety fences were installed along a 1.2-kilometer north–south stretch from the front of Gwanghwamun to City Hall Station, extending 200 meters east–west. Access was restricted to 31 controlled gates equipped with walk-through metal detectors, where police conducted body checks and bag inspections. With most concertgoers being women, female officers were predominantly deployed.
Security was also heightened inside nearby buildings. Entry to 31 structures surrounding the plaza are restricted to block alternative access routes or entry to rooftops and to reduce risks of falls and other accidents.
Traffic restrictions were enforced across the district. Sejong-daero will remain fully closed until 6 a.m. Sunday. Sajik-ro and Yulgok-ro will be restricted from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., while Saemunan-ro and the Gwanghwamun underpass will be closed from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday.
The government established an on-site situation room at the Seoul Government Complex to monitor crowd density in real time. Police, firefighters and civil servants deployed for the event totaled about 15,000.
Fans wait to enter Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on Saturday, ahead of BTS comeback performance. (The Korea Herald/ Lee Sang-sub) 
Fences are installed around a subway ventilation grate near Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. (The Korea Herald/ Lee Sang-sub)
jychoi@heraldcorp.com