BTS Reveal Arirang As New Album

Global K-pop phenomenon BTS have officially announced the title of their forthcoming full-length album, revealing it will be called Arirang, a name drawn from one of South Korea’s most enduring and emotionally resonant folk songs. The announcement was made on Thursday, marking a significant milestone for the group as they prepare to return with a complete studio album on 20 March, nearly four years after their last full release.

Arirang is widely regarded as the most iconic Korean folk song, with a history stretching back more than a century. Passed down orally from generation to generation, the song occupies a unique place in the country’s cultural consciousness. By choosing this title, BTS signal a deliberate reconnection with their cultural roots, blending national heritage with their globally influential modern sound.

In a statement, their agency Big Hit Music explained that the album reflects the group’s origins and identity, while also exploring universal emotions such as longing, affection and emotional resilience. The label described the project as a musical tapestry in which traditional sentiment meets contemporary storytelling, crafted by artists who have matured both personally and creatively during their time away from group activities.

The word “Ari” translates loosely as “beautiful”, while “Rang” conveys the idea of a beloved or cherished person. Together, Arirang has long symbolised love, separation, hope and endurance for the Korean people. Although its precise origins are unknown, the song has been sung in rice fields, during protests, at family gatherings and at state occasions, reinforcing its role as a shared emotional language across social and historical contexts.

According to Big Hit Music, the new album will feature 14 tracks, with recording completed in the latter part of 2025. Expectations are high, not least because BTS have not released a full studio album since Map of the Soul: Seven in 2020. Their most recent group release was the anthology album Proof in June 2022, which served as both a retrospective and a symbolic pause before members pursued individual projects.

Alongside the album announcement, BTS have also confirmed a major world tour, their first since concluding the Permission to Dance on Stage shows in Las Vegas in 2022. The tour will open on 9 April at the Goyang Sports Complex in South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province. A poster unveiled on the global fan platform Weverse indicates an ambitious schedule spanning 34 cities across Asia, North America, Europe and South America, with a total of 79 concerts—widely reported as a record for a single tour by a K-pop group.

Following the South Korean dates, the North American leg will begin on 25 April in Florida, featuring 28 shows across 12 cities. The European segment will run from June to July, with concerts in five cities including London and Paris. The tour will then move to South America, where BTS are set to perform in cities such as São Paulo and Buenos Aires.

Key Album and Tour Details

With Arirang, BTS appear poised to merge cultural homage with global ambition, reaffirming both their roots and their unrivalled presence on the world stage.