On March 24 (local time), Netflix announced that “BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang” recorded a total of 18.4 million viewers, including both live streaming and views within 24 hours after the broadcast.
The broadcast captured BTS’s comeback stage held on March 21 at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.
According to Netflix’s official site, the show recorded 13.1 million views last week (calculated by dividing total watch time by runtime), ranking No.1 among non-English content by a wide margin.
It topped weekly charts in 24 countries, including Mexico, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Bulgaria, and ranked within the Top 10 in a total of 80 countries worldwide.
The event also became a major topic on social media.
Netflix reported that BTS-related content on its official channels generated 2.62 billion impressions. Hashtags related to BTS and Netflix trended across multiple countries, including the United States, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Argentina, the United Kingdom, and Turkey.
U.S. entertainment outlet Variety commented, “The success of ‘BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang’ is no surprise,” adding, “BTS created a global phenomenon four years ago, and this marked their first full-group performance since then.”
The concert also boosted global interest in Seoul landmarks and Korean culture. According to BigHit Music, mentions of keywords such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, Sungnyemun Gate, traditional Korean music, the Bell of King Seongdeok, and King Sejong significantly increased on social media between March 17 and 23.
In particular, mentions of King Sejong surged by approximately 630% on March 21 compared to the previous day, likely due to the performance taking place at Gwanghwamun Square.
Additionally, references to historical figures like Kim Gu, mentioned in BTS’s new album lyrics, and the Bell of King Seongdeok, featured in the album’s sound, also gained rapid attention among global music fans.
BTS had been on a hiatus due to mandatory military service, which began in December 2022 with the enlistment of the eldest member Jin. All seven members completed their service by June last year and have now returned with their fifth full-length album “Arirang.”
Netflix is also set to release a documentary titled “BTS: The Return” on March 27, showcasing the group’s journey in preparing for their new album.
Sources: Daum
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