What is the story about?
K-pop legends BTS unveiled the cover for its upcoming fifth album ARIRANG on January 19, and ARMYs took no time and drawing parallels with a Korean legendary
group that has a deep connection with the title of the LP. The photo includes ARIRANG written in bold and uppercase letters, along with silhouettes of the seven members, Jin, J-Hope, Suga, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook. BTS is set to make its full group comeback with the release of the album on March 20, followed by an extensive world tour that'll cover 34 cities, 79 concerts across 5 continents, running through 2026-2027.
BTS' hidden messages in ARIRANG cover
The interactive cover of ARIRANG is minimalist as BTS also shared hidden voice messages from all seven members. Jungkook's emotional note stood out ahead of the comeback. The standout title sets a cinematic tone. Infact it isn't as simple as it seems in the first glance. The cover holds a rather layered symbolism, which fans believe goes back to Korean culture.
The silhouettes of OT7 are dressed in tuxedos. The members stand against the muted grey-black background. Though their faces are hidden, netizens have managed to decode the framing. According to many, Jimin, J-hope, Suga, and V stand from left to right in the back row. The front row comprises of Jungkook, RM, and Jin. Clicking on each silhouette takes us to a personal voice message from the respective member. Jimin confirms the comeback date saying, "Hi! BTS will be back on 20 March with the 5th album, Arirang."
Tribute to 7 Howard University students?
ARMYs have managed to dig out deeper in ARIRANG cover, adding an emotional layer. They believe BTS has paid tribute to the seven Korean students at Howard University, who first recorded the single in the US in 1896. They drew parallels between the Howard Seven and Bangtan, posting their guesses on social media.
ARMYs react to possible emotional connection
A user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "I ran the ARIRANG teaser image through Photoshop and it is stylised like an old-timey photo, scratches and all. It is likely a homage to the seven Korean students who were enrolled at Howard University in 1896, 130 years ago! When BTS said “back to our roots” they meant it!" Another one noted, "And both groups are made of SEVEN individuals."
A fan shared, "Back to their roots means back to the roots of BTS, thats why RM said in the audio “The ARIRANG of BTS” and I think Jin asked what’s armys Arirang. BTS did not spend 3 years gone to comeback to just pay homage to 130 years ago people. Arirang meant more than this, it’s overcoming."
About ARIRANG legacy
For the unversed, ARIRANG is an iconic Korean lyrical folk song with a deep-rooted meaning in the country's history. Infact, many call it the unofficial anthem, as it represents the core of Korean heritage. It is a cultural symbol embodying themes of joy, sorrow, and perseverance through its countless variations and communal creation.
Interestingly, BTS had performed the Arirang Medley a decade ago, paying tribute to their cultural symbol at KCON 2016 in Paris.
