Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
REVIEW BTS members reflect on fame, future in Netflix documentary
BTS members are seen in a scene from Netflix documentary “BTS: THE RETURN.” Captured from Netflix YouTube account
By Baek Byung-yeul
Documentary captures intimate brotherhood of K-pop superstars
Following its historic live performance at Gwanghwamun Square on Saturday, BTS continues to invite fans into its private world through the new Netflix documentary "BTS: THE RETURN," which captures the journey toward its latest milestone.
The documentary, set for global release on Friday, shows the group’s emotional reunion and the creative process behind its fifth studio album "ARIRANG."
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Bao Nguyen, the film focuses on the transition from the members' mandatory military service to their return as a complete group.
Nguyen, known for works such as “Be Water” (2020) and “The Greatest Night in Pop” (2024), described the project as the "greatest privilege" of his career.
"It's about intimacy, it's about reunion, and at the end of the day, it's very much about brotherhood," Nguyen said during a press conference in Seoul, Friday. "I hope this film is a love letter to this time that the group has been away from the world."
The director revealed that he drew inspiration from classical mythology to frame the group's hiatus and return, comparing the bond between BTS and its global fandom ARMY to a legendary epic.
"I almost thought about it in mythic terms," Nguyen explained. "For me, it felt like the Odyssey. BTS was like Odysseus and their fans are like Penelope, waiting for that longing, for that return."
Bao Nguyen, director of Netflix documentary “BTS: THE RETURN” speaks during a press conference in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Netflix
To capture the most authentic and raw moments of this transition, Nguyen employed a unique filming method.
He provided the members with vintage-style mini camcorders during their time in Los Angeles, allowing them to document their lives without an outside film crew.
"Having them document that was something I knew would be very hard to capture from an outside film crew," the director said. "We have these moments of intimacy between them that are shot by them, which I think are really beautiful and unique."
The narrative follows the group's gathering in Los Angeles, where they navigated the uncertainties of the future and the pressure of preparing for "ARIRANG," their first full-length studio album as a complete group in nearly four years.
A poster for Netflix documentary "BTS: THE RETURN" / Courtesy of Netflix
The documentary provides a raw look at the members in quiet reflection, away from the spotlight of global stardom.
Throughout the film, the seven artists speak candidly about their massive success, often modestly saying that they have achieved more than they ever expected.
They also express desire to be viewed simply as musicians while acknowledging that their journey would have been impossible without the unwavering support of ARMY.
By showcasing the hours of agonizing over music and the mutual trust that sustains the members, "BTS: THE RETURN" serves as a bridge between the group’s storied past and its next chapter.
The documentary highlights the seven members’ commitment to becoming better versions of themselves for fans awaiting their homecoming, hoping to serve as a celebratory gift for global fandom.