Netflix streams first global K-pop concert live

BTS’ comeback concert in Seoul on Saturday was watched by approximately 18.4 million people worldwide, Netflix announced on Wednesday, according to AFP.

The audience for the event held in the South Korean capital showed that “the group’s influence has only grown stronger” during their hiatus, the streaming giant said in a statement, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

The boy band reunited on stage with all seven members for the first time after a nearly four-year break due to mandatory military service.

The live broadcast from Gwanghwamun Square, in front of the historic Gyeongbokgung Palace, entered Netflix’s weekly Top 10 in 80 countries and ranked number one in 24 countries.

This marked Netflix’s first live event from South Korea and the first global live broadcast of a K-pop concert.

During the concert, BTS performed “Body to Body,” a track from their new album Arirang, which incorporates elements of the traditional Korean song Arirang, often considered the unofficial national anthem of South Korea.

The event drew over 100,000 fans to central Seoul, according to HYBE, the group’s label. This was lower than the 260,000 attendees initially expected by Seoul police.

According to the city’s crowd monitoring system, between 40,000 and 50,000 people were present at the venue that evening. The variation in figures is due to the system relying heavily on mobile network connections, which do not fully capture signals from foreign visitors.

Fans waved a sea of light sticks and sang along with the group, while giant screens allowed the crowd to follow the performance.

Security was tight, with around 15,000 police officers and security personnel deployed, roads barricaded, and several areas closed.

The group’s latest album Arirang, released on Friday, reflects the evolving Korean identity of the band. It sold nearly four million copies on its first day, according to HYBE.

The label also reported, citing Spotify, that the lead single “Swim” topped the Daily Top Songs Global chart for three consecutive days (March 20–22), while “Body to Body” ranked second.

The K-pop superstars are preparing for a new world tour starting April 9 with a concert in Goyang, near Seoul. The tour will include at least 82 concerts across 34 cities in Asia, North America, Latin America, and Europe.