What is the story about?
BTS appeared as a full group for the first time ever since it officially announced its comeback world tour and the title of their upcoming fifth studio
album, Arirang. Withing a span of 2 days, BTS blew up the internet with two of the biggest announcements they made in recent times, and now ARMY is eager to see them react to the soaring anticipation. Putting the curiosity to rest, its seven members, Jin, J-Hope, Suga, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook, interacted with fans during a Weverse live chat, where they spoke about picking "Arirang" as the name, what the term symbolised to them, and how they are awaiting to launch new music on March 20, 2026.
BTS' first live after world tour, Arirang announcements
On January 16, BTS spoke about Arirang, where RM said, "We tried hard to put songs that can stay in your playlist. We made more than 100 songs. I really want the album to come out fast." The members even confessed, "We asked our agency to add more venues and cities."
Members reveal how Arirang came into being
RM further explained the emotion behind picking 'Arirang' as the name. He said, "When we were all gathered, we thought a lot about who we were. And we wanted to show you where we started. The seven of us are Koreans and we wanted to include something that symbolised Korea. And we came to call out Arirang."
"There are many ways you can interpret Arirang, the lyrics, and I think it's about aching and longing and love. And when I was in the military, I thought a lot about things like that. I thought a lot about the past and about performing," he added.
J-Hope reiterated, "It [Arirang] really suits us. It feels like our roots. I think it's something that can show that side of us." Jungkook agreed, "It can tie it all together well." The Golden Maknae also revealed how he designed the new logo of BTS. "When we were working in the US, I made about 4 sketches and sent it to the company," he shared.
History of Arirang
Arirang is an iconic Korean lyrical folk song with a deep-rooted meaning in the country's history. It is a cultural symbol embodying themes of joy, sorrow, and perseverance through its countless variations and communal creation. This clearly suggests the band's beautiful message to ARMY after the separation due to their mandatory military term and the hiatus the members had to take from music and their fandom.
Arirang by BTS
Along with the title reveal, BTS also announced the vinyl versions for each member. As per reports, within 30 minutes of the preorder opening, all editions of BTS' Arirang album were sold-out on the US Weverse store, proving the global dominance of the K-pop legends.
BTS had performed the Arirang Medley a decade ago, paying tribute to their cultural symbol at KCON 2016 in Paris. The act turned a precious piece, getting referred by broadcasting companies to depict Korean culture and music, until this day.
