The K-pop mega boy band is officially back.
On Friday, March 20, ARMYs all over world turned in to both music and video streaming platforms to witness the much-anticipated comeback of the Korean pop band BTS.
The team, composed of RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, has released their sixth Korean language full-length studio album entitled Arirang.
Carried as the lead single of the said album, which comprises of 14 tracks, is the song Swim, which had its music video published concurrent to the rest of the album.
Aside from the seven members, also taking part in the four-minute video directed by Tanu Muiño is actress Lili Reihart. As of this writing, the video has already amassed more than 17 million views, a little over eight hours after it was uploaded onto YouTube.
Meanwhile, other tracks in the album are Body To Body, Hooligan, Aliens, Fya, 2.0, No. 29, Merry Go Round, Normal, Like Animals, They Don’t Know ‘Bout Us, One More Night, Please, and Into The Sun.
Arirang marks the first release of the band in over three years, following the anthology album Proof in 2022. The group subsequently went on hiatus as members entered the mabdatory military service of South Korea.
Meanwhile, to celebrate the occasion, the team will be holding a grand comeback show at the historic Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 21.
As per the details provided by streaming platform Netflix, the comeback show will be broadcast live and simultaneously across the globe from 8:00 pm (Korean time) or 7:00 pm in Manila.
However, in a statement on Friday, their parent label BigHit Music disclosed that leader RM’s participation in the show will be limited following an injury.
Apart from that, BTS will also be dropping a new documentary film that will feature the journey in making the album Arirang through BTS: THE RETURN, which will then play on Netflix starting March 27.
The team will also be making their return to multiple places around the world as they are set to stage the album’s namesake tour, Arirang, starting this year.
Included as stops for that concert tour is Manila, Philippines, where they are scheduled to return to in March 2027 for a two-night show at the Mall of Asia Arena.
BTS was formed in 2013 by what was then-known as BigHit Entertainment.
After a few years, the septet grew in popularity in their home base in South Korea, thanks to their early hits like RUN; DOPE; FIRE; Blood, Sweat, Tears; and Spring Day, among others.
In 2018, they successfully penetrated the Western entertainment industry after the release of the Love Yourself album series, which features the songs like Fake Love and Boy With Luv, among others.
They have also collaborated with musical acts like Steve Aoki, Nicki Minaj, Halsey, among many others.