South Korea’s Lee calls for safety, readiness against ‘terror’ acts at BTS concert

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Tuesday, March 17, security and safety must be a top priority for a concert by Kpop band BTS on Saturday, March 21, in Seoul, including readiness for any possible acts of “terror,” according to a live TV broadcast of a cabinet meeting.

The free comeback concert for BTS in central Seoul is expected to draw up to 260,000 people, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said last week, making it one of the largest public gatherings in the area since the 2002 World Cup.

The chart-topping K-pop group is marking the release of its first new album in more than three years with the free concert on March 21, before it embarks on a global tour in April.

The one-hour event, stretching from Gwanghwamun Square to City Hall in the heart of South Korea’s capital, will be streamed live on Netflix to 190 countries, drawing global attention amid heightened domestic scrutiny over crowd safety.

Some 22,000 holders of free tickets will attend the concert, but the area will be open for non-ticket holders who want to come, Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung said.

Authorities earlier said they plan to deploy around 4,800 police officers and 3,400 officials from the city of Seoul and related organizations to manage crowd flow, emergency response, and anti-terrorism measures, local media reported. – Rappler.com

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