(LEAD) Shops, restaurants turn purple to welcome BTS fans | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK (ATTN: UPDATES with fan's remarks; ADDS byline) By Lee Haye-ah and Kim Seong-hun SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- Shops and restaurants in downtown Seoul were adorned in purple Thursday as businesses eagerly embraced the symbolic color of K-pop group BTS ahead of its highly anticipated comeback show this weekend. A signboard is placed outside a restaurant in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on March 19, 2026, to welcome BTS fans. (Yonhap) Around 260,000 fans and visitors from around the world are expected to descend on the streets stretching from the square to Sungnye Gate to witness the return of one of K-pop's biggest success stories. News these days is depressing, so I'm looking forward to, you know, celebration, joy, music, love." Sue, 58, chimed in: "As an Army, it's such a historic moment." A convenience store in Seoul is decorated with purple balloons welcoming BTS fans on March 19, 2026. (Yonhap) hague@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles Central Seoul ward refurbishes streets, digital signs ahead of BTS concert Hybe denies speculation of political motive behind BTS' red-themed comeback events (LEAD) Police to set up crowd control zone for 100,000 people during BTS concert Lee asks for public's cooperation in ensuring safety at BTS comeback show Gov't to raise terror alert by 1 notch ahead of BTS concert Keywords #BTS concert #downtown Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war Police vow zero tolerance for terror threats against BTS comeback concert Most Saved Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life (2nd LD) N. Korea's national sports festival prev (LEAD) Shops, restaurants turn purple to welcome BTS fans Next (LEAD) Shops, restaurants turn purple to welcome BTS fans

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OK
(ATTN: UPDATES with fan's remarks; ADDS byline)
By Lee Haye-ah and Kim Seong-hun
SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- Shops and restaurants in downtown Seoul were adorned in purple Thursday as businesses eagerly embraced the symbolic color of K-pop group BTS ahead of its highly anticipated comeback show this weekend.
The seven-member act is set to perform at Gwanghwamun Square on Saturday to mark the release of its fifth studio album, "Arirang," and preparations have been under way at all levels -- from the district government to the prime minister's office -- to ensure a safe and enjoyable event.
A signboard is placed outside a restaurant in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on March 19, 2026, to welcome BTS fans. (Yonhap)
Around 260,000 fans and visitors from around the world are expected to descend on the streets stretching from the square to Sungnye Gate to witness the return of one of K-pop's biggest success stories.
Outside a raw fish restaurant found west of the square, a small vase of purple flowers decorated the entrance, while employees of a nearby coffee shop wore ribbons in the five cardinal colors of Korean tradition to welcome foreign visitors in an authentic fashion.
"Back when business was very hard due to the pandemic, I was soothed by BTS' songs, so I'm very happy that they will be performing not far from here," Kim Seong-dae, the owner of the fish restaurant, said.
"I want to think of it as a festival and welcome ARMY guests with purple balloons and napkins," he added, referring to the band's fan base.
The entrance of a restaurant in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, is decorated with purple flowers on March 19, 2026, two days before BTS' concert. (Yonhap)
Signboards promoting "BTS meal sets" and "ARMY meal sets" were easy to spot, while one eatery selling cold noodles put out an offer for 1,000 free bowls on the day of the concert.
Convenience stores stocked up with water bottles, hand warmers and power banks to prepare for the throng, and new items appeared to cater to the most diehard of fans -- dolls of each BTS member.
"Our head office helped out a lot so I was able to order a lot more items liked by foreigners," one convenience store owner, surnamed Park, said. "We didn't previously sell dolls of the members."
Still, not everyone in the neighborhood was excited about the weekend.
A short distance from the hustle and bustle, at an eatery tucked away behind the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, the 70-something owner said he was considering closing for the day on Saturday.
"I don't think people will come as far back as here," he said.
In fact, some people were glad to simply be part of the "celebration" and had no plans to be near the concert venue.
Roger and Sue Dupuy, a married couple from California, said they arrived in the country Tuesday and planned to watch a live showing somewhere because they could not get tickets.
"Global community celebrating the show together," Roger, 60, said. "Not just people from Seoul but internationally. News these days is depressing, so I'm looking forward to, you know, celebration, joy, music, love."
Sue, 58, chimed in: "As an Army, it's such a historic moment."
A convenience store in Seoul is decorated with purple balloons welcoming BTS fans on March 19, 2026. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- A signboard is placed outside a restaurant in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on March 19, 2026, to welcome BTS fans. (Yonhap) Around 260,000 fans and visitors from around the world are expected to descend on the streets stretching from the square to Sungnye Gate to witness the return of one of K-pop's biggest success stories.
- Korea committed to expanding nuclear, missile programs; poses 'significant' threats to S.

### Areas for Consideration
- News these days is depressing, so I'm looking forward to, you know, celebration, joy, music, love." Sue, 58, chimed in: "As an Army, it's such a historic moment." A convenience store in Seoul is decorated with purple balloons welcoming BTS fans on March 19, 2026. (Yonhap) hague@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles Central Seoul ward refurbishes streets, digital signs ahead of BTS concert Hybe denies speculation of political motive behind BTS' red-themed comeback events (LEAD) Police to set up crowd control zone for 100,000 people during BTS concert Lee asks for public's cooperation in ensuring safety at BTS comeback show Gov't to raise terror alert by 1 notch ahead of BTS concert Keywords #BTS concert #downtown Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war Police vow zero tolerance for terror threats against BTS comeback concert Most Saved Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life (2nd LD) N.

### Implications
- Outside a raw fish restaurant found west of the square, a small vase of purple flowers decorated the entrance, while employees of a nearby coffee shop wore ribbons in the five cardinal colors of Korean tradition to welcome foreign visitors in an authentic fashion. "Back when business was very hard due to the pandemic, I was soothed by BTS' songs, so I'm very happy that they will be performing not far from here," Kim Seong-dae, the owner of the fish restaurant, said. "I want to think of it as a festival and welcome ARMY guests with purple balloons and napkins," he added, referring to the band's fan base.
- A short distance from the hustle and bustle, at an eatery tucked away behind the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, the 70-something owner said he was considering closing for the day on Saturday. "I don't think people will come as far back as here," he said.
- Roger and Sue Dupuy, a married couple from California, said they arrived in the country Tuesday and planned to watch a live showing somewhere because they could not get tickets. "Global community celebrating the show together," Roger, 60, said. "Not just people from Seoul but internationally.
- News these days is depressing, so I'm looking forward to, you know, celebration, joy, music, love." Sue, 58, chimed in: "As an Army, it's such a historic moment." A convenience store in Seoul is decorated with purple balloons welcoming BTS fans on March 19, 2026. (Yonhap) hague@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles Central Seoul ward refurbishes streets, digital signs ahead of BTS concert Hybe denies speculation of political motive behind BTS' red-themed comeback events (LEAD) Police to set up crowd control zone for 100,000 people during BTS concert Lee asks for public's cooperation in ensuring safety at BTS comeback show Gov't to raise terror alert by 1 notch ahead of BTS concert Keywords #BTS concert #downtown Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war Police vow zero tolerance for terror threats against BTS comeback concert Most Saved Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life (2nd LD) N.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers bts, seoul, concert topics. Notable strengths include discussion of bts. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 905.