[Official] HYBE "Thank you for the consideration for BTS's Gwanghwamun performance... sincere apologies for the inconvenience of the 'body search'" (Full text)

[OSEN=Kim Chaeyeon Reporter] HYBE expressed gratitude regarding BTS's Gwanghwamun comeback performance.

On the 22nd, HYBE stated in an official position, "We sincerely thank everyone for the warm support and consideration shown at yesterday's BTS performance in Gwanghwamun."

Earlier, BTS released a full-group album on the 20th, their first in about 3 years and 9 months. The members, having completed their military hiatus, held 'BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG' at Gwanghwamun Square on the 21st and unveiled the title track 'SWIM' on stage for the first time.

HYBE expressed thanks to the authorities for providing Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun as performance venues, noting the historical identity and cultural symbolism of those spaces.

They also thanked related agencies such as the police and fire services and local governments, and offered apologies and gratitude to citizens, merchants, and visitors who experienced inconvenience due to safety measures such as traffic and building controls and searches for dangerous items.

HYBE emphasized that the growth of K-pop is due not only to artists and fans but also to the cultural foundations built by Korean society and the mature support of citizens, adding that orderly viewing and mutual consideration made the performance shine.

They also expressed gratitude that the performance provided an opportunity to promote cultural heritage, and said they will discuss measures for the protection and promotion of national heritage and cultural properties with relevant agencies to formalize a long-term support system.

Finally, they conveyed condolences to the victims of the Daejeon fire incident and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.

HYBE Official Statement (Full Text)

Hello, this is HYBE.

We sincerely thank you for the warm support and consideration you showed for yesterday's BTS performance at Gwanghwamun.

First, we deeply thank the authorities for providing Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun, symbols of the Republic of Korea, as performance venues.

We recognize that Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun are spaces where Korea's history, identity, and contemporary culture live together. HYBE is very honored to have been able to present a performance to the world from here.

We deeply thank the police, fire services, and other government and local government officials who worked to ensure the safe completion of this performance.

We also extend apologies and gratitude to the residents around Gwanghwamun, nearby merchants, office workers, and visitors. Because we had to ensure the safe execution of a performance watched by the world, unavoidable measures such as traffic and building controls and searches for dangerous items were implemented. We sincerely apologize to those who travel through Gwanghwamun Square and to everyone whose schedules and daily lives were inconvenienced. Thanks to your generous understanding and consideration, we were able to create a meaningful time.

The growth of K-pop into a culture that resonates worldwide today is thanks not only to artists and fans but also to the cultural foundations built by Korean society and the mature support of its citizens. We are well aware that this performance was possible on that foundation. Orderly viewing, mature civic consciousness, and mutual consideration made this performance shine. We thank everyone once again.

HYBE will cherish the support and consideration given to this performance and will strive even harder to convey the emotion and value of K-pop and K-culture to the world. In particular, we are grateful that the performance allowed us to introduce our proud cultural heritage to the world, and we will promptly finalize and implement long-term support systems by concretizing the plans for protection and promotion of national heritage and cultural assets that are being discussed closely with relevant agencies.

Once again, we sincerely thank everyone who worked on the Gwanghwamun performance.

Finally, we extend our condolences to all those affected by the Daejeon fire incident. We offer deep sympathy to the bereaved families and wish the injured a speedy recovery.

March 22, 2026

Sincerely, HYBE

/[email protected]

[Photo] OSEN DB