On Friday, K-pop sensation septet BTS announced, through their label BigHit Music, that their upcoming full-length album will be titled Arirang. Set for release on March 20th, this 14-track album marks the group's fifth studio album and their first major release since the 2022 anthology Proof.
Arirang, according to BigHit, "sets out the direction the members will take moving forward." The label stated that "the members were deeply involved throughout the songwriting and production process, infusing their own thoughts and identities while expressing the emotions and reflections they experienced along their journey."
"Arirang" is the title of Korea's most famous folk song, with an estimated age of over 600 years and more than 3,600 variations across roughly 60 different versions. It is listed twice on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage register after being submitted by South Korea in 2012 and North Korea in 2014.
Following the album's release, BTS will embark on what BigHit describes as the largest world tour in K-pop history, spanning 34 cities and 79 shows. The tour, which features a 360-degree stage design, kicks off on April 9th at Goyang Sports Complex near Seoul.
Formed in 2010, BTS consists of RM, Jin, V, J-Hope, Suga, Jung Kook, and Jimin. The group went on hiatus in 2022 as all seven members completed South Korea's mandatory military service.
