President Lee Jae Myung expressed strong approval of the recent performance by K-pop group BTS at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.
During a Cabinet meeting at the Blue House on March 24, President Lee received a briefing from Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Choi Hwi Young on the ‘BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG’ concert held on March 21. He remarked, “It seems to have been decisive in promoting Gwanghwamun and South Korea.”
President Lee also noted, “Foreign tourists will now come to Gwanghwamun in greater numbers. The planning was well executed. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and other relevant departments worked hard. They managed safety well, and the event proceeded without incident.”
Minister Choi added, “Through the live broadcast, the attention of young people around the world was focused on Gwanghwamun in the heart of Seoul. From the perspective of national branding and the global spread of K-culture, the event had an immeasurably significant impact.”
He further highlighted that tourist numbers in March increased by about 31% compared to last year, particularly among people in their teens and twenties, attributing the rise to the global influence of K-culture. Regarding attendance figures, which fell short of the projected 260,000, he explained, “The estimate was made at the maximum to ensure safety management.”
The ‘BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG’ concert celebrated the release of BTS’s fifth studio album, 'ARIRANG,' which came out on March 20. Attendance figures varied, with Seoul city reporting 44,000 attendees, while HYBE, BTS’s management company, cited 104,000.
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