President Lee Jae-myung praised BTS’s comeback concert, held last weekend at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.
During a cabinet meeting at the Blue House on the 24th, President Lee received a report from Minister Choi Hwi-young of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. He stated, “It was decisive in promoting Gwanghwamun and South Korea, and seems to have played a significant role. Tourists will now frequently visit Gwanghwamun,” he noted.
He added, “The planning was well done and well executed,” and commended the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and related departments for effectively managing safety issues without any incidents.
Minister Choi assessed, “The live broadcast drew the attention of young people worldwide to Gwanghwamun in central Seoul. I believe this has had an immeasurable effect on the national brand and the global spread of K-culture.” President Lee agreed, stating, “That appears to be the case.”
Furthermore, Minister Choi reported, “Compared to last year, foreign tourist numbers in March have increased by 31%. Notably, there has been a rise in visitors in their teens and twenties, demonstrating a positive effect from the influx of foreign tourists due to the spread of K-culture.”
Addressing the spectator count on the day of the event, which fell short of the predicted 260,000, Minister Choi explained, “We predicted the maximum for safety control, but the actual attendance was lower.”
The ‘BTS Comeback Live: Arirang’ concert, held at Gwanghwamun Square on the 21st, commemorated the release of BTS’s 5th studio album ‘Arirang,’ which was unveiled on the 20th. According to Seoul city’s tally, 44,000 attended the concert, while HYBE’s figures reported 104,000 attendees.
