South Korean megastars BTS reunited Saturday for their first show in nearly four years, blowing away enormous crowds in Seoul for a K-pop extravaganza livestreamed to millions more worldwide.
Widely lauded as the biggest boy band in the world, BTS went on hiatus in 2022 so the seven members could serve compulsory stints in the South Korean military.
The comeback concert by the group at the vanguard of the Korean cultural wave was staged on the doorstep of the historic Gyeongbokgung royal palace -- a fitting venue for the "Kings of K-pop".
Enormous crowds of fans -- 260,000 were predicted before -- descended on Seoul from morning onwards in colorful costumers, taking selfies and clutching BTS "ARMY" glowsticks.
Before they came on stage fans chanted "BTS! BTS!" with the main boulevard leading up to Gwanghwamun Square -- the symbolic heart of the Seoul -- ram-packed with people as far as the eye could see.
"Hi Seoul, we are back," one of the group members said.
Gwanghwamun Gate was lit in rainbow colors, as a massive stage installation featuring three circular features -- symbolizing BTS's new album -- glowed beneath towering lighting rigs.
Lee Yeon-seo, 36, a South Korean who travelled from the southern city of Jeonju, was one of those who arrived early.
"My seat is actually toward the front, near the main stage, so I'm even more excited thinking I'll get to see them up close," she told AFP.
"With the tour kicking off in April, this is the beginning of their new journey. In a way, it feels like an honor to experience it live like this, more vividly than most people."
"I'm from Australia so I came down to Korea for the culture and for the BTS concert, just to see," Gloria Moloney, 22, told AFP.
Potentially millions more across the world will tune in to see a Netflix live broadcast.
In a last-minute setback, the group's agency said Friday that BTS leader RM hurt his ankle in rehearsals and that his "participation in certain performance elements, such as choreography on stage, will be restricted."
The group was expected to perform their latest album, "ARIRANG", which was released on Friday and is billed as a reflection of the maturing boy band's Korean identity.
The album sold almost four million copies in the first day, BTS's record label said. Five million fans pre-saved it on Spotify, the most ever for a K-pop act.
"ARIRANG" takes its name from a folk song about longing and separation that is often dubbed South Korea's unofficial national anthem.
Featuring collaborations with multiple Western artists and producers, the 14 tracks on the album mix rap, heavy beats and experimentation.
"Compared to their earlier work, there's a wider range of genres, which gives it a more mature and expansive feel," impressed fan Lee Ji-young, a university professor, told AFP.
"As always, their lyrics are honest, and through a diverse range of sounds, they give a clear sense of who they are and where they stand right now."
Another fan on Reddit wasn't so impressed.
"I hope they sing some of their old stuff," they said.
