K-pop idol group BTS held the first day of their Seoul concert on March 10, which became a reunion with BTS ARMYs after nearly two and a half years.
The Grammy-nominated superstars had their “BTS Permission to Dance on Stage-Seoul” concert at the Seoul Olympic Stadium.
This was BTS’ first face-to-face concert since their “2019 BTS World Tour Love Yourself: Speak Yourself The Final” held on Oct. 26, 27 and 29, 2019 at the same venue.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, only 15,000 people were allowed by the Korean government to attend the concert per day.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism approves performances up to 50 percent of a facility’s capacity (based on the number of seats) and up to 4,000 people for indoor facilities.
The Seoul Olympic Stadium, an outdoor venue, has 65,599 seats available and based on the 50 percent rule, the BTS concert should have 32,799 people per day but only 15,000, or 22.9 percent, were allowed.
To prevent the spread of Covid-19, cheering, shouting and standing up during the concert were not allowed during the concert. Instead, the fans used clappers that were given to them before the start of the concert. The clapper used at the BTS concert was a huge board. Fans folded the board to make fan-shape clapper.
BTS opened the concert with the songs “ON,” “Fire” and “Dope.”
“It feels like a lot of things have changed just by having you in the audience,” said RM after the first three songs.
J-Hope said, "Everyone has been waiting for this concert for a long time. We have prepared great stages that everyone can enjoy, so please enjoy it to your heart's content.”
According to Suga, "The reason the concert was filled with group songs is because ARMY wants to see us, but we want to see more ARMYs.”
BTS also performed “DNA,” “Blue & Grey,” “Black Swan,” “Blood Sweat & Tears,” “Fake Love,” “Life Goes On” and “Boy With Luv” and “Dynamite.”
BTS members shared their feelings about being able to hold a face-to-face concert in a long time.
"I wasn’t fine. For two and a half years, I missed you and waited for you because of Covid-19. But the moment I saw you today, my heart was completely cleared,” said J-Hope.
V said, "I really had high expectations. I had a lot of fun this time. I heard the applause instead of the voices of the ARMYs, so I have a goal to listen to their voices next time. Let's make happy memories in the remaining performances."
Jungkook said, “I'm so happy now. I can't hear your expressions or voices, but I hope it will be a happy time thanks to you. Let's make many happy days ahead. This is the beginning.”
According to Suga, “We came back to the main stadium . It has been two and a half years since we promised you to wait. We are very sorry. When we met again, we wanted to meet at the full stadium, but unfortunately we couldn't and I'm sorry.”
Jimin said, "You know how much we waited, felt disappointed and missed each other. It's good because all the sad and difficult feelings seem to have disappeared. It felt like seeing a friend after a long time. I will work hard in the future."
BTS ended the concert with “Permission to Dance.”
The last two “BTS Permission to Dance on Stage-Seoul” concerts will be held on March 12 and 13.
Here is the setlist of “BTS Permission to Dance on Stage-Seoul” Day 1 on March 10, according to Big Hit Music:
1. ON
2. Burning Up (FIRE)
3. Dope
4. DNA
5. Blue & Grey
6. Black Swan
7. Blood Sweat & Tears
8. Fake Love
9. Life Goes On
10. Boy With Luv
11. Dynamite
12. Butter
13. Telepathy
14. Outro: Wings
15. Stay
16. So What
17. Idol
18. Home
19. Airplane pt.2
20. Silver Spoon
21. Dis-ease
22. Permission to Dance