Ahead of BTS’s highly anticipated comeback concert in Seoul, major landmarks across the city are set to light up,but not in the color fans expected. According to officials, 15 landmarks across Seoul will be illuminated in red on March 20 and 21. Some of the landmarks include Sevitseom, Cheonggyecheon, Seoul Botanic Park, Seoul Tower, and Lotte World tower. The large-scale lighting project is meant to transform the city into what officials described as “a giant concert stage.”
However, the announcement quickly sparked displeasure among fans. BTS is famously associated with the color purple, a symbol closely tied to their message of love and connection. So when it was revealed that the landmarks would instead glow red, many fans began questioning the decision.
Sevitseom lit up.
A Seoul city official explained the reasoning.
“The color of the new album ‘Arirang’ is red, so at the request of the organizer (HYBE), red lighting was used.”
Despite the explanation, reactions online have been mixed.Some fans understand the branding choice tied to the album concept, while others feel that purple would have been more meaningful given BTS’ identity.
Meanwhile, another wave of discussion has emerged among Korean netizens, with some speculating that the red lighting could be linked to political symbolism, as red is associated with the political party of Seoul mayor Oh Se Hoon.
| theqoo
- This just looks like People Power Party election campaigning with the Japanese flag up. Isn’t it completely the opposite direction of Arirang?
- LOL wow, they’re really doing everything ahead of Oh Se Hoon’s local election.
- They’re seriously showing major communist party vibes.
- Ugh.
- Is this the People Power Party?
With opinions divided, and the political twist introduced, the lighting project has unexpectedly become a hot topic.