BTS comeback brings cheers from fans worldwideFans from around the world, ranging from teenagers in Argentina to a housewife in Korea, gathered at Gwanghwamun Square, Saturday night, united by one sentiment: “It’s great to see BTS back together.” Tens of thousands of ARMY members screamed, chanted and waved purple light sticks throughout the 60-minute concert, “BTS COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG,” the group’s first live performance in three years and five months. “From the moment they said, ‘we’re back’ at the very beginning, I was already getting emotional. Seeing how well they prepared for their comeback show — it was really moving,” Bella Lai, 16, from Taiwan, told The Korea Times. Lai, who has followed the group for four years, also said: “All the ARMYs were chanting and singing together — the atmosphere was just amazing.” Ann, a fan from the Philippines, said, “The show was overwhelming. The scale, the energy, the music — everything made it unforgettable. We’re just happy to be here.” For Park Jee-yoon, a 49-year-old housewife from Korea, the struggle to secure tickets and the sacrifices she made tMar 22, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
ReviewBTS flexes K-pop dominance with historic Gwanghwamun comeback showSuperstar group BTS wrapped up its long-awaited comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square Saturday evening, transforming one of the capital’s most historic landmarks into an open-air K-pop stage. The performance, titled “BTS COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG,” marked the group’s first full-member concert in three years and five months, coming a day after the release of its fifth studio album, “ARIRANG.” The timing gave the show an added jolt of urgency, as fans arrived eager to become the first to witness the new material go live. The single-night show unfolded against the illuminated facade of Gwanghwamun gate, where large-scale projection mapping and synchronized lighting effects turned the landmark into a dynamic concert backdrop, seen through the picture frame-like stage structure. Staging a comeback at one of Seoul’s most symbolically charged public spaces underscored the themes of identity, origin and renewal that run through BTS' new album. The choice also amplified the group’s long-standing narrative of representing Korean culture on a global stage, now brought back to a historMar 21, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Imagine foreigners singing ‘Arirang': How Bang Si-hyuk persuaded BTS to include the traditional songGlobal K-pop group BTS is drawing attention for incorporating the traditional Korean folk song “Arirang” into its new track “Body to Body,” a move that reflects both artistic ambition and careful deliberation. The song, included on BTS’s latest album “Arirang,” features the familiar melody of “Arirang” layered with dynamic samulnori percussion and hip-hop elements. According to the music platform Melon, March 21, “Body to Body” ranked No. 4 on the daily chart, following the album’s lead-off track “SWIM,” which placed first the previous day. Interest in the track has also brought attention to how the traditional melody came to be included. According to industry sources, the idea was proposed by Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of HYBE and the album’s executive producer. While BTS members agreed on the album’s concept of revisiting their roots, opinions reportedly differed on whether to incorporate “Arirang,” with some expressing concern that it could feel overly direct or be perceived as excessive nationalism. During a songwriting camp held in Los Angeles last suMar 21, 2026By Hankookilbo
BTS video lead actress Lili Reinhart shares playful behind-the-scenes clip with global K-pop starsA behind-the-scenes clip featuring Hollywood actor Lili Reinhart and global K-pop group BTS is drawing attention online, giving fans a rare glimpse into the atmosphere on set. On March 20, Reinhart posted a short video on her social media account with the caption, “Keep an eye on them for me, thanks.” The clip quickly circulated across fan communities, adding to the buzz surrounding BTS’s long-awaited comeback. In the video, Reinhart introduces the BTS members before stepping out of frame. The group then breaks into playful poses, showcasing their individual personalities and a lighthearted chemistry that highlights the relaxed, energetic mood of the shoot. The footage offers a behind-the-scenes look at the music video for “SWIM,” a track from BTS’s fifth full-length album “Arirang,” which was released the same day. The comeback marks the group’s first full-member return in nearly four years, amplifying global fan interest. The video was directed by Tanu Muino, a globally recognized filmmaker known for her visually striking work with major international artists. ReinharMar 21, 2026By Xportsnews
BTS’ RM reveals cast photo ahead of ‘Arirang’ concertFans of global K-pop group BTS were left worried after leader RM revealed he had been injured just days before the group’s highly anticipated comeback performance. On Friday, RM posted a photo on social media showing his ankle in a cast, captioned simply with a crying emoticon, “ㅠㅠ.” The image quickly spread across fan communities, fueling concern as BTS prepared for their large-scale return concert at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. The group is scheduled to perform “BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG,” Saturday, marking their first full-group comeback in nearly four years — a moment already drawing global attention. According to their agency BigHit Music, RM sustained the injury during rehearsal Thursday. He was diagnosed with a navicular bone sprain, partial ligament tear and talus contusion — injuries involving ligament damage and inflammation around the ankle. Medical staff advised him to minimize movement for at least two weeks, meaning he will be unable to perform some choreography during the comeback show. Despite the setback, RM sought to reassure fans during a livMar 21, 2026By Xportsnews
BTS sets own first-day sales record with 'ARIRANG'K-pop supergroup BTS has sold more than 4 million copies of its new album "ARIRANG" on the first day of release, marking the band's highest first-day sales to date, its agency said Saturday. BigHit Music said the band's fifth studio album recorded 3.98 million sales in 24 hours after its release Friday. The figure surpasses the group's previous first-week record of 3.37 million copies set by its fourth studio album "Map of the Soul: 7" in February 2020. "Arirang" has also topped iTunes' Top Albums charts in 88 countries and regions, including Italy, Mexico and Sweden, according to the label. Its lead single "Swim" reached No. 1 on iTunes Top Songs charts in 90 markets, such as the United States, Japan, Britain, Germany and France. In South Korea, the track jumped straight to the top of local streaming services Melon and Bugs, with all songs from the album entering Melon's Top 100. Produced under the direction of Hybe Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, the album explores BTS's identity as a group that began in Korea and universal feelings shared through its musical journey. The lead track carries a mMar 21, 2026By Yonhap
Fans elated despite big-city exhaustion just hours ahead of BTS’ Gwanghwamun showHours before BTS is set to take the stage at Gwanghwamun Square, central Seoul, it had already begun to feel less like a city center and more like a vast, improvised fan village. By Saturday afternoon, sidewalks, subway exits and café terraces surrounding the plaza were packed with fans of BTS — known as ARMY — from across Korea and overseas. Some leaned against barricades scrolling through streaming apps, while others clustered beneath roadside trees, sharing snacks and swapping travel stories while keeping a constant eye on the vastly expanding crowd. The mood was a mix of fatigue and excitement — a familiar paradox for fans who had traveled long distances for a rare chance to witness the group up close. “There are so many people here which makes it quite exhausting, but we’re planning to stay here until the concert starts at 8 p.m.,” said Han Hee-young, 20, who had arrived early with her friend Sugdiyona, 19, from Uzbekistan. The two stood out in the throng with purple balloons and ice-cream cones — the symbolic color of the group — purchased from a nearby café, smalMar 21, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
‘Distinctly Korean’ BTS bring palace-front spectacle to GwanghwamunGlobal K-pop group BTS returned with their new album “Arirang” to stage a landmark comeback performance at Gwanghwamun Square, Saturday, marking the first time a single artist or group has held a standalone concert at the historic site. Set against the backdrop of Gyeongbok Palace, the performance will highlight what BTS described as a fusion of “K-heritage and K-pop.” Their agency HYBE said it had applied to use the location with that concept, and the Korea Heritage Service granted approval on the condition that the site would be closely monitored to prevent any damage to cultural assets. From their earliest days, BTS have incorporated Korean identity into their music and performances. Their 2013 track “Paldogangsan,” from the mini album “O!RUL8,2?,” showcased regional dialect rap, with members introducing their hometowns using local accents. Lyrics referencing regions such as Daegu and Gwangju delivered both humor and a message of unity, emphasizing that “under the same sky, we are all worthy.” This theme continued in “Ma City” from “The Most Beautiful MomentMar 21, 2026By Hankookilbo
Ancient bell sound enters BTS album after museum chief’s inspirationThe resonant sound of Korea’s historic “Emille Bell” has been incorporated into BTS’s latest album, marking a unique fusion of traditional heritage and global pop music. According to the National Museum of Korea on March 20, a high-quality audio recording of the Sacred Bell of Great King Seongdeok — widely known as the “Emille Bell” — was used on BTS’s new track “No. 29,” featured on their fifth full-length album “Arirang.” “No. 29,” the album’s sixth track, serves as an interlude bridging the first and second halves of the record. The audio captures even the subtle “beating” phenomenon — a rhythmic fluctuation in sound intensity that produces a long, lingering resonance often imperceptible to the human ear. During a live broadcast held shortly after the album’s release, BTS leader RM said, “We set the track length to 1 minute and 37 seconds (actually 1 minute and 38 seconds) to match the duration of the bell’s resonance when it is struck.” The title “No. 29” is understood to reference the bell’s former designation as National TreasureMar 21, 2026By Hankookilbo
BTS tops brand reputation rankings upon full-group comebackGlobal K-pop group BTS has ranked No. 1 in singer brand reputation rankings immediately following their full-group comeback. According to the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute, March 21, BTS topped the March 2026 singer brand reputation rankings based on big data analysis. Lim Young-woong placed second, followed by IVE in third, BLACKPINK in fourth and WOODZ in fifth. The singer brand reputation index is calculated by extracting big data on artists whose music is widely consumed, and analyzing consumer behavior. The index evaluates participation, communication, media and community values, along with positive and negative sentiment ratios through a reputation analysis algorithm. BTS returned as a full seven-member group on March 20 with the release of their fifth full-length album “Arirang,” marking their first group comeback in about three years and nine months. The album features 14 tracks, including the lead-off song “SWIM,” and reflects the group’s accumulated experiences and personal reflections, offering a portrait of BTS at their current stage. This article frMar 21, 2026By Hankookilbo
