After a roughly four-year hiatus, BTS is finally back with their full-length album, “ARIRANG.” During the group’s break, each member fulfilled their role in South Korea’s mandatory military service, which requires men between the ages of 18 and 28 to enlist for up to 21 months.
The last member, Suga, completed his service in June 2025. The album, “ARIRANG,” was released March 20 and includes 14 songs, with their title track “SWIM.” However, despite the album being marketed as homage and a tribute to the group’s Korean culture, “ARIRANG ultimately feels disconnected from BTS’s identity in both the album’s music and theme.
The name “ARIRANG” isn’t just the title of their album but also the name of one of South Korea’s most beloved folksongs. I
n 1896, seven Korean students who attended Howard University recorded “Arirang” on a wax cylinder with the help of ethnologist Alice Fletcher. Today, the wax cylinder with the original recordings is held in the Library of Congress located in Washington, D.C. Given the historical context and cultural significance of the original song, BTS’s album lacks its highly anticipated traditional elements and therefore loses the cultural identity it was marketed as.
The album’s seventh track, “SWIM,” is marked as the album’s title track but tends to lack impact compared to BTS’s previous title tracks. It’s softer instrumental and mellow lyrics tend to make the track feel a bit underwhelming. The English lyrics also focused on vague and repetitive lines that ultimately failed to leave an impression, in addition to the instrumental lacking Korean elements.
However, the first track of “ARIRANG,” “Body to Body,” features heavy drums, catchy synths, strong vocals during the pre-chorus and exceptional rap verses. Furthermore, the bridge of the song features traditional Korean drums and singers singing the original “Arirang.” This song combines BTS’s original hip-hop roots that date back to 2013 and their cultural background harmoniously. Compared to “SWIM,” “Body to Body” better represents the album’s concept and theme.
“ARIRANG” has a few standout moments, but it can also have a repetitive sound. A few of the songs have similar structures and sounds, such as “Hooligan” and “2.0.” Both tracks have harsher and rap-centered sounds. However, these two tracks have relatively surface-level lyrics. On the other hand, songs like “FYA” and “One More Night” have more elaborate themes. “FYA” has elements of EDM and has great potential for live performances. It’s loud and dance-break potential instrumental can compete against other tracks for crowd-favorite. Meanwhile, “One More Night” introduces a late-night club ambiance. The lyrics being mixed in both Korean and English also add a layer of depth in addition to its strong vocals and captivating melody.
For long-time fans of BTS, “ARIRANG” may feel quite experimental and distant from the group’s past discography. In the past, BTS has shifted from hip-hop and rock to eventually mainstream pop while still having a distinct identity. Previous album trilogies such as the “Early School” trilogy, “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life,” and “Love Yourself” have themes that represent rebellion, youth and self-love that are significantly supported by the members’ participation in the production. These albums feature a studio-level production directly from the members who felt authentically BTS.
In contrast, “ARIRANG” leans more toward the western pop spotlight with producers and lyricists from the United States, such as Ryan Tedder and Diplo. As a listener who has followed BTS since 2017, the group’s shift has been noticeable, especially in “ARIRANG.” While experimentation is expected and is a trend in the group’s past, this album felt less representative of what exactly BTS’s musical identity is.
Ultimately, “ARIRANG” is an album that was created under the reliance on Western pop elements that lack cultural influence. While the album also has glimpses of the group’s roots and Korean heritage, it feels disconnected from the concept and theme it was marketed on.
For some, the album’s refined sound and global appeal may still land high on the charts.
However, for those who were expecting BTS to bring back its original sound and cultural roots, “ARIRANG” falls short of its promise as it’s more experimental than career-defining.
Grade: C
