BTS dropped an animated video on Friday tied to their upcoming fifth LP, "Arirang," which is set for release on March 20.
The animation, titled "What is your love song?", opens in 1896. Seven young men gather around a phonograph, and as it plays, the melody of "Arirang" — a Korean folk song with roots stretching back centuries — fills the room. The story follows these characters as they cross the Pacific by ship and record the song in a foreign country, performing it for local audiences, hearing it for the first time.
The setting then jumps to the present day, where BTS appears on stage performing before a crowd lit in purple, the group's signature color. The video ends with the members standing in front of Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.
According to Big Hit Music, the concept was inspired by historical records showing that "Arirang" was first formally recorded in Washington in 1896 — a detail most people, even in Korea, are unaware of. The label said the project was designed to introduce that history to international audiences. "We wanted to share the story behind 'Arirang' with those who may not be familiar with the song," the label said in a press release. "We hope more people will look up its lyrics and connect with the uniquely Korean emotions embedded in the music."
Alongside the animation, BTS also released the first official group photo for the album, with all seven members dressed in sleek suits that match the animation's aesthetic.
"Arirang" is BTS's fifth full-length album and their first group release following the completion of their mandatory military service. It was executive-produced by HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk and features contributions from producers including Diplo and Ryan Tedder. The album contains 14 tracks that the label describes as representing BTS's musical identity at its clearest.
The day after the album drops, on March 21, BTS will hold their comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square — their first live performance together since enlisting. The show will be livestreamed worldwide exclusively on Netflix, making it the platform's first-ever live broadcast of a single act's full concert.
For a group that built its global reputation partly on connecting Korean culture with international audiences, naming a comeback album after Korea's most recognized folk song—and building an entire animated history around it—is a considered choice.