BTS will stage a long-awaited comeback concert at a Seoul landmark

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — BTS will stage its long-awaited comeback concert on Saturday night at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square, one of South Korea’s most famous landmarks that represents its royal heritage and political and cultural life.

In a free concert expected to draw tens of thousands of fans, the K-pop juggernaut's seven members, all South Koreans, will perform songs from their first album in nearly four years, “ARIRANG,” whose title is taken from the most beloved traditional folk tune on the Korean Peninsula.

"'ARIRANG' is an album that embodies the origin and identity of BTS and carries the message that they want to convey now,” Hybe Corp., the parent company of BTS' management agency, said in response to questions by The Associated Press. “Considering the symbolic significance of the word ‘Arirang,’ we've decided to hold a performance at Gwanghwamun, a place that represents Korea.”

Gwanghwamun Square is named after the huge main gate of nearby Gyeongbokgung, a royal palace for Korea’s Joseon dynasty, which ruled the peninsula for more than 500 years until its collapse in 1910.

Located in the heart of Seoul, the sprawling square is home to cultural and art events. It hosts giant statues of two of Korea's most respected figures — King Sejong, who invented the Korean script in 1443, and navy admiral Yi Sun-shin, who defeated the Japanese invasion in the 16th century.

The square is also a symbol of South Korea’s young, resilient democracy, the site of massive rallies in times of political upheavals in recent years.

When then- President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law imposition in late 2024 triggered the most severe crisis for the country’s democracy in decades, protesters gathered in the square, calling for his ouster. Rallies blended politics and pop culture, with demonstrators waving colorful light sticks used at K-pop concerts and signing K-pop tracks such as Girls’ Generation’s “Into the New World.”

Observers say the hourlong Gwanghwamun concert, which will be livestreamed on Netflix globally, will reaffirm BTS’ identity as a group that expanded from Korea to the world stage. BTS had been on hiatus because its members had to complete their mandatory military duties in South Korea.

Ha Jae-keun, a cultural critic, said that no matter where the BTS holds its comeback concert, it would be successful. But as the biggest stars of K-pop, BTS likely determined that appearing at a symbolic Korean site would be “most meaningful,” he said.

Jung Dukhyun, a pop culture commentator, said the selection of Gwanghwamun likely reflected a view that Korean traditional culture and local elements can resonate on a global scale, as seen in the success of the Netflix sensation “KPop Demon Hunters,” which won the Oscar for best animated feature and best song for “Golden” this week.

Officials believe the concert will likely enhance South Korea's international cultural influence.

They also plan to take extensive safety steps to prevent crowd-related incidents.

In a message posted on X on Wednesday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called BTS “a proud artist of the Republic of Korea” and expressed hope that the concert will show “our beautiful cultural heritage and the charm of K-culture.”

Besides about 20,000 ticketed fans at the square, about 240,000 others are expected to fill nearby areas to watch the concert on temporary screens. Authorities plan to block roads, have subway trains pass through some stations and close the Gyeongbokgung place.

Some residents criticized what they saw as preferential treatment given to BTS and potential inconvenience to the public. But many experts say the concert has a big public aspect.

“BTS is the nation's band. Now they intend to hold an open performance for the public free of charge. I think it would be very natural for the government to support it,” Ha said.

Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung contributed to this report.

A man hangs a banner at a convenience store near the stage for a free concert by K-pop group BTS in Seoul, South Korea, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

People take photos of screens promoting a comeback concert of K-pop group BTS at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

People take photos of a screen promoting a comeback concert of K-pop group BTS at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

People take photos of a screen promoting a comeback concert of K-pop group BTS at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

A couple takes a selfie photo near a banner promoting a comeback concert of K-pop group BTS at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s incumbent Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul won a vote in Parliament on Thursday to remain in office, according to an official tally.

The leader of the Bhumjaithai Party garnered 293 votes, exceeding the required majority of the 498 members who attended the session in the House of Representatives.

Anutin is expected to take office a few days after obtaining a formal appointment from King Maha Vajiralongkorn and the new cabinet is expected to be appointed in the following weeks.

Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party won 191 seats in February's general election, according to official results, and has since built a coalition with several other parties to form a governing majority. Among those partners is the populist Pheu Thai Party, which placed third with 74 seats.

The progressive People’s Party, which finished second with 120 seats, has said it will not join the Bhumjaithai-led government. Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut received 119 votes after being nominated in what the party said was only a symbolic contest.

Anutin and Natthaphong were among the 86 lawmakers who abstained from voting Thursday.

Anutin, 59, became prime minister only in September after serving in the Cabinet of his immediate predecessor, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was forced out of office for an ethics violation regarding mishandling relations with Cambodia. Anutin dissolved Parliament in December to call an early election after he was threatened with a no-confidence vote.

He has since seen a surge in popularity following his self-presentation as a defender of the nation during the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict, which strengthened nationalist sentiment among voters.

Thailand fought with Cambodia twice last year over competing territorial claims along their border.

The incoming government is expected to face immediate challenges. A war in the Middle East that broke out in February has driven up global energy prices, increasing the cost of goods and raising concerns about a potential oil shortage.

Another political uncertainty also arose after the Constitutional Court said Wednesday it would rule whether last month’s election should be invalidated.

The case stems from a petition filed by the Ombudsman’s Office against the Election Commission, alleging the inclusion of barcodes and QR codes on ballot papers could compromise voter anonymity in violation of election laws requiring a secret ballot.

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul arrives at the parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Pheu Thai party leader Julapun Amornvivat, center, gesture as he arrives at the parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Yodchanun Wongsawat from Pheu Thai Party arrives at the parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

A worker cleans the desk for Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at the parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)