BTS’ New Album Is Called ‘Arirang’. Here’s What It Means For Their Comeback

BTS has officially revealed the title of their highly anticipated fifth studio album: ARIRANG. The announcement came Thursday morning via BigHit Music’s social media channels, with pre-orders opening January 16 at 11 a.m. KST and the album releasing March 20 at 1 p.m. KST. For those unfamiliar with Korean cultural history, the album title carries profound significance that extends far beyond a simple name.

Korea’s Unofficial Anthem

“Arirang” is a Korean folk song with approximately 3,600 variations of 60 different versions, all including a refrain similar to “arirang, arirang, arariyo.” The song is estimated to be more than 600 years old and holds a unique place in Korean identity. It appears twice on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, submitted by South Korea in 2012 and North Korea in 2014.

For some, the song represents something larger than music; it encapsulates what Koreans call “han,” a complex emotion of deep-seated sorrow, longing, and collective grief mixed with resilience and hope. Arirang addresses themes of separation, lost love, tragedy, and pain, yet also perseverance and deep love for the nation. It has become almost an unofficial national anthem, sung by virtually all Koreans regardless of region or generation.

Historical And Cultural Weight

The term “Arirang” itself carries layered meanings. Linguistic research suggests that in ancient Korean, “ari” meant “beautiful” and “rang” meant “the groom,” with the term often translated as “my beloved one”. The song is believed to have originated in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, with the first written mention found in a 1756 manuscript.

Throughout Korea’s tumultuous modern history — including Japanese colonial rule, the Korean War, and the ongoing division of the peninsula — Arirang has served as a symbol of national identity and resistance. It functioned as a rallying cry during Korea’s struggle for independence under Japanese occupation, when efforts to eradicate Korean culture were at their peak. The song’s ability to adapt and evolve made it a vessel for expressing collective experiences of displacement, separation, and hope for reunion.

Why This Title Matters For BTS

For BTS to name their comeback album after Korea’s most beloved folk song is a deeply intentional choice. The group has consistently centered their Korean identity throughout their global career, from incorporating Korean traditional instruments and hanbok in performances to addressing Korean social issues in their lyrics.

The “Arirang” title signals a return to roots after the group’s nearly four-year hiatus during military service. It suggests themes of reunion, homecoming, and collective Korean experience, all of which are appropriate for a group that has spent years separated and is now reuniting both with each other and with their global fanbase.

A defining virtue of Arirang is its respect for human creativity, freedom of expression and empathy, with everyone able to create new lyrics and add to the song’s variations. This democratic, ever-evolving nature mirrors BTS’s own artistic philosophy of giving voice to individual experiences while creating collective meaning.

What We Know About The Album

The album is BTS’s fifth full-length studio album. The announcement follows Tuesday’s reveal of the group’s 2026-2027 world tour, which kicks off in South Korea in April and runs through March 2027 with over 70 dates across Asia, North America, South America, Australia and Europe.

Physical album details reveal an ambitious release with multiple versions, including a “Living Legend” edition, “Travel Tag CD Box Set,” Weverse Albums version, and a limited edition red vinyl. Target announced it will partner with BTS for exclusive pre-order editions of “ARIRANG”.

For a group that has consistently bridged Korean and global audiences, “Arirang” represents both a homecoming and a continuation of their mission to share Korean culture with the world.