K-pop sensation BTS is celebrating its return with a massive concert in Seoul today, March 21, 2026, expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans. The group’s first studio album in nearly four years, “Arirang,” has already sold approximately four million copies in the 24 hours following its release.
According to a statement from the band’s record label, BigHit Music, “Arirang” sold 3,980,000 copies on its first day, surpassing the first-week sales of BTS’s fourth studio album, “Map of the Soul: 7.”
The Return of the “Kings of K-Pop”
The South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that “Arirang” marks a new chapter for the group as its members complete their mandatory military service. The album has topped the iTunes album charts in 88 countries and regions, including Mexico, Italy, and Sweden, BigHit confirmed.
BTS, at the forefront of the global Korean cultural wave, is performing its first concert since 2022 today, in front of Seoul’s historic Gyeongbokgung Palace – a fitting location for the group often called the “kings of K-pop.” The free concert, anticipated to host over 260,000 fans, will begin at 8:00 PM local time (12:00 PM CET) and will be livestreamed worldwide on Netflix. This performance highlights the band’s continued global influence even during a period of individual member commitments.
BigHit stated that RM, the group’s leader, will perform with a cast on his ankle and limited mobility after sustaining an injury during rehearsal on Thursday.
lgc (efe, afp)
