The color choice was linked to the People Power Party.
Koreaboo
59 minutes ago
HYBE has responded to growing controversy surrounding the use of red lighting for BTS’s upcoming concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.
| BigHit Music
Ahead of the event, 15 major landmarks across the city were set to glow red, sparking confusion among fans who associate BTS with the color purple. The situation quickly escalated as some Korean netizens began speculating that the choice of red carried political meaning, linking it to Seoul mayor Oh Se Hoon’s party.
Netizens Suspect Seoul Mayor Of Using BTS’s Comeback For Political Purpose
The accusations that HYBE and BTS allowed their brand to be used as political propaganda were severe, and now the company has immediately shut them down.
Seoul City is taking a weird move. They’re lighting up landmarks for BTS but it’s not purple but red. They claim it’s the color of the new logo but I feel sus bc red is the color of the PPP (far right wing party), which is the party of the current Seoul mayor https://t.co/Ew9P2bxbbS
— 들🪅 (@c_andle) March 16, 2026
HYBE explained that the red lighting is tied directly to BTS’s upcoming album Arirang, describing it as the project’s key color. They also clarified that the Seoul Metropolitan Government used the same color at their request
| HYBE
We would like to inform you that the red color used in the Gwanghwamun Square concert is the key color of the ‘Arirang’ album.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government is also using red in accordance with HYBE’s request.
We kindly ask that this public cultural event not be excessively interpreted through a political lens.
— HYBE
The company urged the public to avoid overanalyzing the event through a political lens.
BTS