Netflix has secured exclusive live streaming rights to BTS’s comeback concert, which marks the South Korean superstar group’s first concert in nearly four years as they reunite after completing mandatory military service.
The streaming giant will broadcast BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG live on March 21 at 8 pm Korea Standard Time. Netflix has yet to disclose whether all subscribers can access the livestream, saying more information will be released soon.
The concert will take place at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, where all seven members — RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook — will perform together for the first time since December 2022. The setlist will feature songs from their fifth studio album, ARIRANG, which will drop on March 20. BTS members worked on the 14-track album during the second half of 2025.
Netflix has also secured rights to BTS: THE RETURN, a companion documentary premiering March 27 that chronicles the creation of the album and the group’s reunion. The film is directed by Bao Nguyen (The Stringer, The Greatest Night in Pop) and produced by This Machine (Martha, Karol G) and HYBE.
The documentary deal gives Netflix behind-the-scenes access to the reunion process as the seven members met up in Los Angeles to create new music after their separation. The film documents how the group navigated personal changes from their time in military service and their return to a shared creative space, said Netflix.
“BTS: THE RETURN offers an intimate look at the performers as they work through doubt and share in moments of laughter and rediscovery.”
Netflix
Netflix wrote: “BTS: THE RETURN offers an intimate look at the performers as they work through doubt and share in moments of laughter and rediscovery. BTS contemplates how to begin again, how to honor the past without being bound by it, and how to define an ever-evolving identity as the bandmates grow as artists and global icons.”
BTS paused group activities in December 2022 when members began fulfilling South Korea’s compulsory military service requirement, which mandates up to 18 months of active military duty.
Jin and j-hope were discharged in 2024, while RM, V, Jimin, and Jung Kook finished their service in June 2025. SUGA, the final member to complete military duty, was discharged on June 21, 2025. During the hiatus, individual members released solo projects.
The Netflix deal follows BTS’s announcement of a world tour beginning April 9 in Goyang, South Korea. The tour, promoted by Live Nation, will span 34 regions with 79 shows across North America, Europe and Asia. Tickets went on sale in late January, with presales for the group’s fan club now open since January 22 via the ARMY MEMBERSHIP PRESALE. Remaining tickets went on general onsale since January 24 via Live Nation.
As MBW previously reported, this marks the first large-scale tour for BTS in about four years since BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE, which ended in a Las Vegas show in April 2022.
BTS was HYBE’s top revenue generator prior to their hiatus in 2022. They were also the world’s biggest recorded music artists in 2021 and 2020, according to IFPI.
With the group’s absence, HYBE’s operating profit dropped 37.5% YoY to KRW 184.82 billion ($135.55 million) in FY 2024, which the company attributed to, among other factors, “BTS‘ temporary break.”
In November, HYBE CEO Jason Jaesang Lee said the company expects “full-scale improvement” of its revenue structure starting in 2026. The executive said: “This recovery will be anchored by BTS’ return as a group, the accelerated growth of K-pop artists, further results from our ‘multi-home, multi-genre’ strategy, and stable profitability from Weverse.”
The same month, Seon Jeong Shin, President of HYBE’s flagship record label BIGHIT MUSIC, home to BTS, discussed the group’s return as part of an MBW World Leaders series interview.
“The unprecedented anticipation for BTS coming back as a full group is something we’re deeply aware of,” she told us. “We see it as a positive sign that their music and stories continue to resonate powerfully with fans around the world.”
For Netflix, the exclusive deal comes as the streaming giant doubles down on K-pop content. In 2025, animated film KPop Demon Hunters became the platform’s most-popular movie of all time and remains at the top of the list with over 325.1 million views.
The virtual bands behind KPop Demon Hunters are actual talents. HUNTR/X consists of R&B singer and rapper Audrey Nuna, singer and record producer Ejae, known for her work with K-pop groups like aespa, LE SSERAFIM and TWICE, and Seoul-born singer-songwriter Rei Ami. Saja Boys include SM Entertainment-signed singer Andrew Choi and FC ENM-signed singer and actor Kevin Woo.
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