Four years ago, as I was stuck watching the horrid outcome of the Bengals Superbowl LVI (a sad night, considering I am from Cincinnati), I was given solace from the devastating loss. BTS, and their commercial with Samsung flip phones, enlightened my world on that fateful night, with their hit song “Butter.” That night started my Kpop (specifically BTS) obsession, and is a memory I think of fondly.
Now, as soon as I became a fan, BTS went on hiatus, with the release of their anthology album Proof. This was a compilation album, with only three new songs “Run BTS,” “Yet to Come,” and “For Youth” being featured. It was the last album released before the four year break the group took; a pause for the required military service for men in Korea.
During this four year break, the members of the group, RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, all went off on solo careers, and, obviously, served their military time. Each released their own albums: RM with Indigo in 2022 and Right Place, Wrong Person in 2024; Jin with Happy in 2024 and Echo in 2025; Suga (under the stage name Agust D) with D-DAY in 2023; j-hope with Jack in the Box in 2022, HOPE ON THE STREET VOL. 1 and hit single “Killing it Girl (feat. GloRilla)” in 2025; Jimin with FACE in 2022 and MUSE in 2024; V with Layover in 2023: and finally, Jungkook with GOLDEN in 2023, featuring viral hits “Seven (feat. Latto)” and “3D feat. Jack Harlow.”
While their solo activities were well-received (and definitely worth listening to), many fans (including myself), were itching for more group albums. So, on January 6th, 2026, the official album, Arirang, was announced to release on March 20th. The album features 14 tracks, totaling to about 41 minutes of completely new music.
To understand the album, we (especially us foreigners) have to look back at Korean history. From 1910-1945, Korea was occupied by Japan, and as a form of resistance, the Koreans used the song, “Arirang.” The song had been around for a long time- while the origins are unclear, the song was first documented in 1756, during the Jeongseon region of the current Gangwon province. Since then, the song has become Korea’s unofficial anthem and is a symbol of Korean identity and heritage.
The song “Arirang” is slightly different throughout the country, with variations in the lyrics based on the region of Korea. However, the main lyrics are “arirang, arirang, arariyo”, and are focused on separation, love, and longing.
For BTS to name their album “Arirang” is very emotional for many Koreans, since it was about a very important part of their culture. With this album, BTS went back to their roots, both with their debut and their traditional Korean roots. It signifies the celebration of Korean culture on a worldwide scale, showcasing classic Korean culture and music to those who have never experienced it before. BTS has always integrated parts of Korean culture into their music, with songs like “Baespae” (aka “Silver Spoon”) and “IDOL,” but had transitioned into more Western-style songs before their break, with hits “Butter” and “Dynamite.”
While many fans expected for “Arirang” to be a focus point for the album, the song is rather used as inspiration, not as a center point of the album. However, in saying this, they did give appreciation to the song in the first track of the album, “Body to Body.” The song has a sexy-seeming title, yet it focuses on the celebration of being back with fans, and, after about two minutes, fades from heavy rap and drums into the traditional “Arirang” chorus. It highlights their Korean heritage, while setting the precedent for the new era of BTS.
With the release of the album, BTS performed at Gwanghwamun Square, the former royal palace in the heart of Seoul. They performed concert style, with fans getting tickets to stand in the street, and it was also streamed on Netflix. On March 27th, BTS is also releasing a documentary that focuses on the making of the album, and it streams exclusively on Netflix. They are also going on tour in 2026, starting in April and ending in September.
The album itself focuses on the real BTS, or, the realest version that the members can give us fans. Because of this, the album is heavily influenced by hip-hop, the genre that started it all for the band. When BTS debuted in 2013, their songs were centered in the hip-hop and rap aspect of music. This is shown in their pre-debut music, as well as their earliest albums “2 cool for Skool” and “O!RUL8,2?.” In Arirang, they brought back those sounds, creating a very unique, yet very BTS like quality to the album.
For the first five songs of the album, the vibe is hype, with the songs centering on fast beats and heavy rap. The sixth track, “No. 29,” is a break in the fast-paced vibe of the album, with the full 1 minute and 38 seconds ringing the sound of Korea’s Sacred Bell of the Great King Seongdeok. This serves as a transition into slower melodies and lyrics with deeper meaning, as shown in songs like “they don’t know ‘bout us” and “Like Animals.”
“SWIM” was the title track of the album, and unlike title tracks from previous releases, was very laid back and calm. The song is in full English, and symbolizes the new chapter for BTS and us, the fans, as well as being an anthem for overcoming hardships. Similarly, the song “Merry Go Round” offers the softer qualities of the album, showcasing BTS’s feelings of being stuck in a monotonous circle of fame (it’s a personal favorite).
As a fan myself, to me, the album highlights the struggles of being some of the most famous idols in the world. One of the songs, “NORMAL,” really stuck out to me. It retaliates against the parasocial relationship a lot of Kpop fans have with their idols and the hardship of being famous in the music industry. The album itself showcases the brutality of fame, of having to be perfect all the time, to be what fans want and expect.
In response to the album, many fans (aka ARMY, or the nickname for the BTS fandom) received the album well. However, there is always backlash, especially about the influence of English lyrics, rather than Korean. Many fans were upset that the songs focused on English- yet, fans have to be realistic. When creating this album, BTS traveled to LA, where they worked with a lot of English speaking creators. Furthermore, BTS has no obligation to make an album more Korean or more English. This is their album- they are trying to show their feelings and we as fans must accept them for who they are.
It can be hard to step back into the world of music after so long. Yet, that is the beauty of BTS with this album. They are able to make music so completely new, yet so familiar, it feels like they never left the scene.
If you haven’t yet, give the album a listen, even if you aren’t the biggest Kpop fan. It’s a great listening experience, and there are definitely some bangers to add to your playlist!
