Culture Ministry Launches Special "K-Culture Program" Ahead of BTS Concert

Collaboration with Five Major Institutions Including the National Museum of Korea
On-Site Situation Room at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History to Manage Crowds

A concert stage for BTS is set up at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is set to host a large-scale event to showcase the appeal of Korean culture to the world, ahead of the comeback concert by BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan). On March 19, Minister Choi Hwi-young announced that, in conjunction with the BTS concert scheduled for March 21 at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, the ministry will run special programs in collaboration with five major national cultural institutions.

This event will feature the National Museum of Korea, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, the National Folk Museum of Korea, the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, and the National Library of Korea, each presenting exhibitions, hands-on experiences, performances, and educational programs that highlight their unique characteristics. The ministry aims to create an integrated cultural festival that blends Korean history, art, and literature, and to maximize the influx of international tourists through these collaborative programs.

The National Museum of Korea will produce and release a video in English introducing artifacts such as the “Pensive Bodhisattva” and the “Moon Jar,” which are known to be of interest to BTS members, starting from March 21. The National Museum Foundation will also collaborate with HYBE to develop and sell cultural products inspired by the museum's collection, with sales beginning on March 20.

From March 20 to April 30, the National Folk Museum of Korea will present “K-Culture Folk Heritage with BTS.” The museum will offer guided explanations of artifacts such as traditional funeral bier decorations, which have drawn interest from BTS members, and will operate the “K Playground,” where visitors can experience traditional games such as tuho (arrow throwing) and top spinning, as featured in the BTS YouTube content “Run BTS.” Every Saturday, the museum will also host the “K-Fun Hanmadang,” a performance combining traditional instruments and rhythms.

Exhibited BTS Time Capsule. Provided by the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History

The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History will exhibit the “BTS Time Capsule,” donated by BTS, and related videos until May 31. In addition, in honor of the 100th anniversary of director Na Woon-gyu's film “Arirang” (1926) and in connection with the upcoming “Arirang” (2026) performance, the museum will run a children’s educational program called “Arirang of Rock (樂)” from April to June, highlighting Arirang as an element of popular culture throughout modern and contemporary history.

From March 20 to April 12, the National Library of Korea will hold an exhibition of books that inspired BTS’s music. The exhibition will feature literary works and research materials that influenced the members, such as Kim Yeong-nang’s “Until the Peonies Bloom” and Yun Dong-ju’s “Boy.” There will also be a concurrent “Writer’s Notebook” exhibition, allowing visitors to experience Korean literature through media art.

With an estimated crowd of about 260,000 expected on the day of the concert, the ministry is also focusing on safety management. From March 20 to 21, a field situation room will be set up on the sixth floor of the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History. The ministry plans to work closely with local governments and related agencies to thoroughly prepare for any emergencies. A ministry official explained, “This will be a precious opportunity for people around the world to directly experience not only BTS’s music but also the depth and diversity of Korean culture.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.