BTS Brings Back a Korean Song: How 'Arirang' Travels the World
BTS returned in 2026 with their fifth studio album ARIRANG and a world tour. From the seven members' 2013 debut to global stages, discover how their Korean roots have become part of a new musical story.
What if seven artists loved around the world chose 'Arirang' as the title of their new album? For Koreans, it's the name of a familiar folk song; for international fans hearing it for the first time, it may prompt new questions about Korea. In 2026, BTS put that question back in the spotlight.
The seven members began their journey in Korea in 2013
BTS made their debut in June 2013. RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, each with a distinct voice and personality, reached stages worldwide through their music, performances, and exchanges with fans. Their fandom, ARMY, is an essential part of that journey.
Their achievements cannot be measured only by chart positions or awards. Across the world, fans have learned songs in one another's languages and grown curious about new cultures. BTS's agency points to their success on global music charts, speeches at the United Nations, and their LOVE MYSELF campaign as ways they have conveyed messages beyond music.
Why call it 'Arirang'?
On March 20, 2026, BTS released their fifth full-length album ARIRANG with 14 tracks. Its title track is 'SWIM'. The album's title comes from one of Korea's best-known folk songs, but it does not mean the old song has simply been recorded again. It is more a symbol of the group's origins and the feelings they wanted the album to express.
According to reports published around its release, the members actively participated in production and songwriting, seeking to reflect the identity rooted in their Korean beginnings. The short title 'Arirang' evokes longing, love, a long journey, and the feeling of meeting one another again. While creating music for the world, they also looked back at where they came from.
From Goyang to the world again
After releasing the album, BTS began their ARIRANG world tour with a concert in Goyang on April 9, 2026. The official schedule also lists performances in Busan, Tokyo, and cities across Europe and the Americas. Equally striking is that the tour, too, carries the name 'Arirang'.
As of October 26, the agency's schedule lists performances in São Paulo, Brazil, on October 28, 30, and 31. Seeing a title rooted in Korea appear at venues around the world reflects the long journey of Korean popular culture. Schedules may change for operational reasons, however, so concertgoers should confirm official notices.
More than one song
If we describe BTS only in numbers, we miss something important: people in different countries learning the same lyrics, discussing the feelings behind them, and becoming interested in Korea, where the music began. Music can sometimes bring people closer without anyone needing to change their language.
In that sense, the title ARIRANG is not mere nostalgia; it can be read as the start of a new connection. After journeying from Korea to the world, BTS are once again taking a Korean name out onto global stages. What memories or feelings does the word 'Arirang' bring to mind for you?
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