President Lee Jae-myung praised BTS’s comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Plaza as a meaningful event that elevated the national brand.
At a Cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on the 24th, President Lee said, “It seems to have played a decisive role in promoting Gwanghwamun and the Republic of Korea. Tourists will now flock to Gwanghwamun.” He added, “The planning was strong and the execution was successful. It was especially important that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and related agencies prioritized safety, allowing the event to finish without incident.”
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young noted, “The live broadcast focused the attention of young people worldwide on the heart of Seoul. In terms of national branding and the spread of K-culture, the impact was beyond calculation.” President Lee agreed, saying, “That seems right.”
Minister Choi also reported, “Foreign visitors in March rose about 31% year-over-year, with a sharp increase among travelers in their teens and 20s. The spread of K-culture is translating into tourism gains.”
The concert, held for one hour from 8 p.m. on the 21st in the Gwanghwamun Plaza area, was a major event marking BTS’s return as a full group after roughly three years. It was streamed live worldwide on Netflix, connecting with fans across the globe in real time.
The government deployed about 15,000 personnel for crowd control and safety. Some attendees pointed out that intensive pat-downs and bag checks felt excessive. Even so, the event ended without major incidents despite the massive crowd.
President Lee said, “Cultural events like this can become a competitive strength for Korea,” expressing expectations for tourism growth powered by K-culture.
Photo: Baik Seung-Chul
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)
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