K-BUZZ

260,000 Fans Shut Down Seoul! BTS ‘ARIRANG’ Live at Gwanghwamun Square

K-BUZZ

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 10:15

BTS marks their triumphant return with the ARIRANG concert at Gwanghwamun Square, performing for 260,000 fans in their first complete group stage in nearly four years. The comeback includes their record-shattering fifth album selling nearly 4 million copies on day one, with the title track SWIM premiering live and streaming globally on Netflix. Meanwhile, BLACKPINK's Jennie earns her second platinum certification in the US for her solo work, and NMIXX becomes the first K-pop group to perform at Brazil's São Paulo Carnival and Chile's legendary Viña del Mar Festival. Plus, actress Jung Eun-chae reflects on her powerful performance in Honor: Her Court, and ILLIT announces their upcoming Japanese single Bubee featuring viral choreography.


Stay connected with K-BUZZ for your daily dose of Korean entertainment news!

Visit us at https://www.kbuzz.net for more updates, episode archives, and additional content.

Love the show? Leave us a review and help other K-pop and K-drama fans discover K-BUZZ. Your support helps us keep bringing you the latest from Korea's entertainment scene every day.

Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you in the next episode!

SPEAKER_01

Welcome to K-Buz, your daily source for the latest Korean entertainment news.

SPEAKER_00

We're your hosts bringing you all the hottest updates from the K-pop and K-drama world.

SPEAKER_01

Today is March 21st, 2026, and we've got some incredible stories to share with you. Let's dive right in. BTS made a historic return to the stage with their Comeback Live concert, Arirang at Seoul's Guanghuamun Square, drawing an estimated 260,000 attendees and marking their first complete group performance in three years and nine months. The members opened up about their fears during the hiatus, with J Hope admitting they worried about being forgotten, while RM shared that they spent two months working in LA before finalizing the album in Korea. Their fifth full-length album, Arirang, shattered records by selling 3.98 million copies on its first day alone, surpassing their previous record of 3.37 million with Map of the Soul 7. The title track Swim and other new songs received their world premiere at the free concert, which was live-streamed globally on Netflix in an unprecedented move for the platform.

SPEAKER_00

The BTS comeback transformed Guanghuamun into a purple-lit festival zone, with fans from France, Vietnam and Indonesia arriving days early to secure spots and capture the historic moment. Local businesses prepared for the massive influx by stocking up to 100 times their usual inventory of water blankets, batteries, and portable charges essential for powering the signature army bombs throughout the night concert. Seoul authorities deployed 15,000 safety personnel, including police, firefighters, and private security, while installing 2,500 portable restrooms and multiple medical stations to ensure crowd safety. For those without tickets, Seoul City Hall set up large LED screens just a 15-minute walk away to broadcast the performance live, extending the celebration beyond the 22,000 seated attendees at the main venue.

SPEAKER_01

Blackpink's Jenny continues her solo dominance in the US market, earning platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America for her title track Like Jenny from her first full solo album, Ruby. This marks her second platinum certification, following One of the Girls, and comes just seven months after the song initially received gold status. Jenny also holds two additional gold certifications for Extral and Mantra, both tracks from the Ruby album released last year. The achievement solidifies her position as one of K-pop's most successful solo artists in the American music market.

SPEAKER_00

Actress Jung Unche delivered a powerful performance in the ENA drama to honor her court by portraying lawyer Kang Xinji with a nuanced approach that balanced strength and vulnerability. Jung revealed she spent sleepless nights perfecting her character, dividing Kang Xin Jai's emotional journey into chapters to show how the confident lawyer gradually unraveled when discovering those closest to her were connected to a sex trafficking app. The actress found her most memorable line to be, Even if the wind blows, I'll sway, but flowers still bloom, which she felt captured her character's resilience. Juung is already preparing for her next transformation in Chay Bol X Detective 2, where she'll play Detective Ju Hera, leading a team of male actors in a completely different role from the polished lawyer she just portrayed. Norris, who learned Tang Sudu martial arts while stationed in Korea during his US Air Force service, went on to become an iconic action hero after his debut in Bruce Lee's Way of the Dragon in 1974. His family released a statement honoring him as a symbol of strength and dedication, noting that his work and warmth inspired people worldwide. US President Donald Trump and actor Sylvester Stallone were among the many celebrities who paid tribute, with Stallone recalling their time working together on films as truly wonderful memories.

SPEAKER_01

NMX is making waves in Latin America after becoming the first K-pop group to perform at Brazil's São Paulo Carnival and Chile's 60-year-old Vinha del Mar Festival, where legends like Shakira and Ricky Martin once graced the stage. Their mixed pop sound, which blends multiple genres like hip-hop, jazz, Latin, and electronic music in single tracks, resonates perfectly with Latin audiences who prioritize rhythm and energy. Industry experts note this isn't just market targeting, but rather a natural expansion, as Latin America has long been a core K-pop fan base that the industry is finally recognizing, especially given the region's 17.1% year-over-year music market growth.

SPEAKER_00

SBS's investigative program, That's What I Want to Know, issued a formal apology to President Lee JM Young for a 2018 episode that alleged connections between him and organized crime without solid evidence. The episode, titled Power and Gangsters, One Year After the Pataya Murder Case, aired in July 2018 when Lee was serving as Gyeonggi Province Governor and raised suspicions about his involvement with a Xiongnam crime organization. The production team acknowledged that subsequent investigations by police and prosecutors resulted in no charges, and the Supreme Court in 2021 confirmed the allegations were legally unfounded. The show pledged to strictly adhere to journalism principles to prevent such incidents from recurring, responding to President Lee's request for a sincere apology to ensure politically motivated character assassination doesn't happen again.

SPEAKER_01

The J-pop-based dance track with Shibuya subculture vibes features lyrics by Japanese singer-songwriter Noah, known for the original omnidirectional beautiful girl, marking their second collaboration after working together on Eilit's first Japanese single track, Topping. Choreographer Makita Sako, who led successful dance challenges for hits like Milk and Cutie Street, is creating a challenge designed for friends, couples, and families to enjoy together. The song will also serve as the opening theme for the upcoming Japanese TV anime Magical Sisters Lulu and Lily, with the group set to make their Korean comeback on April 30th with their fourth mini album Mamihla Pinatapai.

SPEAKER_00

JYP Entertainment revealed a packed schedule of teasers, including a track list on the 23rd, followed by mood films, voyage logs, and highlight samplers leading up to the release. The band will build anticipation with a pre-release track, unveiling its music video teaser on the 24th and the full audio on the 25th. After maintaining momentum through their second fan meeting, exclusive party, and first solo Japanese concert, the new X scene, earlier this year, the group is ready to showcase their continued musical evolution.

SPEAKER_01

That wraps up today's episode of K-Buzz.

SPEAKER_00

Thanks for tuning in to get your daily dose of Korean entertainment news. Don't forget to subscribe to stay updated on all the latest happenings in the K-pop and K drama world.

SPEAKER_01

We'll be back tomorrow with more exciting stories and updates, so make sure to tune in for the next episode of K-Buzz.

SPEAKER_00

Until then, stay tuned to All Things Korean Entertainment, and we'll catch you tomorrow.