BTS comeback concert on Netflix draws 18.4 million viewers
South Korean K-pop group BTS returned to the stage after a hiatus of more than three years, attracting record attention worldwide. Their concert, BTS The Comeback Live | Arirang, held at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square and streamed live on Netflix, was watched by 18.4 million viewers within the first 24 hours of release.
According to Netflix, the broadcast ranked among the top ten most-watched content on the platform in 80 countries and reached number one in 24 markets, reaching audiences from Asia to the Americas. The concert also led the global chart for non-English Netflix programs.
The online success contrasted with attendance at Gwanghwamun Square itself. Police initially expected up to 260,000 spectators, including main areas and surrounding zones with large screens. Official figures reported around 45,000 attendees, while the group’s agency, Hybe, estimated approximately 104,000 people including adjacent areas.
For BTS, the event was significant not only in terms of live viewership. Their new album, Arirang, the first since Proof (2022), has sold over four million copies. The music video for the single Swim has received more than 60 million views on YouTube since its release.
Public interest is also focused on the upcoming documentary BTS: The Return, premiering soon on Netflix, as well as the group’s world tour—the largest in K-pop history—which begins in April in South Korea and will include stops in Latin America and Europe.
