Oh See-hoon: "BTS's 'Return of the King'... We will turn it into a nationwide celebration"

Original article: The Fact

"An opportunity that Seoul must seize"

On the morning of the 4th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government held an "Inspection Meeting on Current Issues Related to BTS's Comeback Event," chaired by Mayor Oh Se-hoon, to review lreparsriobs and safety measures for the upcoming full-group BTS comeback event scheduled to take place at Gwanghwamun Square. 

In his opening remarks, Mayor Oh said, "It seems the entire nation has been waiting for this. The return of the king is approaching," adding, "The comeback event of BTS, who are returning as a complete group after fulfilling their military duties, is something Seoul truly needs and should be grateful for."

He emphasized that the event would be held at Gwanghwamun, one of Seoul's most symbolic locations, stating, "An event taking place at Gwanghwamun, the heart of the capital Seoul, is truly an opportunity that the city must make the most of."

He then cited a past example: a snowboarding competition held at Gwanghwamun Square in 2009. Mayor Oh recalled, "At the time, Seoul increased its promotional budget tenfold to promote the city globally, and as part of that effort, ski jumps and snowboarding facilities were installed at Gwanghwamun Square. Over three days, about 300,000 people attended, and the event was broadcasr to 15 countries through major global media outlets."

He added, "Back then, there was considerable criticism about holding such an event in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace and the statue of King Sejong, but Seoul was in a desperate situation where it needed to transform itself into a cultural city and a 'Fun City.'"

Referring to that experience, he stressed, "The return of BTS as a full group is something we truly need, and it is worth developing into a nationwide celebration,"

Mayor Oh also highly praised BTS's contribution to Seoul tourism. He said, "From 2017 until their enlistment in 2023, BTS served as honorary tourism ambassadors for Seoul, appearing in various promotional materials. They are a precious asset that played a decisive role in helping build today's 'Fun City Seoul,' which is approaching 20 million annual visitors. 

He continued, " Seoul will warmly welcome BTS and must pay special attention to resolving safety issues and minimizing inconvenience to citizens." He added, "As spring approaches on March 21,any citizens will visit Gwanghwamun Square with high Expectations. Please prepare thoroughly so that everyone can enjoy a joyful festival in a safe and pleasant environment."

He further emphasized, "To minimize traffic congestion and inconvenience to pedestrians, we must cooperate efficiently with the National Police Agency in advance to ensure the event's success," and urged department and bureau heads to conduct thorough on-site inspections beforehand."

Mayor Oh concluded, "I hope that the tasks discussed today will help make the March 21 event a truly enjoyable celebration from  the public's perspective and become a meaningful occasion that also supports BTS's future."

Meanwhile, anticipating a massive turnout, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has established comprehensive safety and traffic measures. These include preventing overcrowding at major hubs such as Gwanghwamun Square and Seoul Plaza; monitoring using CCTV and real-time urban data; on-site management in cooperation with police, fire departments, and district offices; adjusting pedestrians routes in bottleneck areas; and securing medical and emergency personnel. In addition, traffic measures such as express subway pass-throughs, bus route detours due to road closures, and multilingual guidance for foreign tourists will be implemented.