Arirang

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ARIRANG is BTS’s 2026 studio comeback, their sixth Korean‑language and tenth overall album, and the first full group release since all seven members completed military service. Rel eased on March 20, 2026 through Big Hit Music in multiple physical editions (including “Rooted in Korea,” “Rooted in Music,” and “Living Legend” versions), the 14‑track record is framed as a reflection on the group’s 12‑year journey and a re‑centering of their identity as a Korean act whose global success grew from local roots. The title references the traditional folk song “Arirang,” which Big Hit describes as a symbol of BTS returning to where they began, both musically and culturally.Musically, the album balances blockbuster pop with more adventurous, sometimes avant‑leaning choices: it moves from the opening run of high‑energy cuts (“Body to Body,” “Hooligan,” “Aliens,” “FYA,” “2.0”) into the interlude “No. 29,” before hitting its centerpiece single “SWIM,” then flowing through “Merry‑Go‑Round,” “NORMAL,” “Like Animals,” “They Don’t Know About Us,” “One More Night,” “Please,” and the climactic closer “Into the Sun.” The members are heavily involved in the writing and production, with RM in particular shaping “SWIM” as a metaphor for choosing to move with life’s currents rather than exhaust yourself fighting them, echoing earlier songs like “Sea” and “Life Goes On.” Critics across outlets such as NPR, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and NME have greeted ARIRANG as a triumphant and creatively confident homecoming, praising its bilingual bangers, thematic cohesion, and willingness to take risks while still delivering enormous choruses and polished pop craft. Show more