Ahead of BTS’ first show in years, South Korean police lock down central Seoul

South Korea shut down the heart of Seoul on Saturday for a comeback concert by K-pop supergroup BTS, as authorities prepare for an estimated 260,000 fans to flood the city’s streets and millions more to watch the show live on Netflix.The one-hour-long concert, set to be held in the capital’s historic Gwanghwamun Square, marks the release of the seven-member group’s first new album in more than three years and the start of a global tour in April.BTS made their debut in 2013 and ‌have since gone on to global superstardom, becoming the most streamed K-pop artist globally on Spotify, with its members invited to the White House and partnering with the UN General Assembly. In 2022, the group went on hiatus so the members could complete South Korea’s mandatory military service.“The City of Seoul will do its best to make it flexible – to make [the performance] both safe and enjoyable,” said Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon on Thursday as he checked safety measures put in place.Seoul is staging the event nearly four years after a crowd crush killed Halloween revellers in the city’s Itaewon nightlife district. Memories of the disaster still linger, amplifying pressure on South Korean authorities to ensure the safety of what is expected to be one of its ⁠largest-ever public gatherings.Seoul police have shut streets and erected fences as well as metal detectors around the square, which sits to the south of the Gyeongbokgung Palace. They have also said they will jam signals ‌of any unauthorised drones. The Seoul government, BTS’ management agency HYBE and other organisations involved in the event have also deployed a combined 8,200 personnel to manage the crowds, who had already begun to gather on Friday.