SEOUL, South Korea ? BTS returned to the stage in full on March 21 with a free comeback concert in central Seoul, ending nearly four years of hiatus and turning the reunion into one of the biggest pop-culture events of the year.

In its report from Gwanghwamun Square, The Associated Press said all seven members performed together again after completing mandatory military service, debuting songs from a new album and drawing tens of thousands of fans to the city center.

The comeback quickly spilled into streaming data. AP later reported that Apple Music and Shazam recorded a major post-show surge, with BTS music climbing global charts and driving a broad spike in listening activity.

The return was also tied to a new screen project. AP's documentary report said Netflix's ?BTS: The Return? followed the band's path back to full-group activity and framed the reunion as both an artistic reset and a cultural event.

For BTS, the Seoul show was more than a concert. It was the public restart of a group whose absence had only increased the scale of anticipation around its next phase.