"BTS is back in business after 4 years."
BTS, set to return as a full group, is shaking up the global music market. The group BTS returns as a full unit after about 3 years and 9 months, promising an unprecedented run that will rewrite K-pop history. From a solo concert at Gwanghwamun Square to a Netflix global live stream and the most dates ever for a K-pop world tour, they appear to have poured all their firepower into the "return of the king."
BTS will release their fifth studio album ARIRANG simultaneously worldwide at 1 p.m. on March 20. This new record comes 3 years and 9 months after the anthology album Proof released in June 2022, and it is the first studio album in 6 years and 1 month since MAP OF THE SOUL : 7, released in February 2020.
The 14-track album borrows the title of a representative Korean folk song to capture the team's roots and identity, and the longing and love felt during their hiatus. The members all focused on production from the second half of 2025 and say the album most honestly reflects the current BTS.
Fans' reactions have been explosive. Preorders surpassed 4.06 million copies within a week of presale, breaking their own record, and Spotify presaves exceeded 2 million in four days, even threatening Taylor Swift's record.
The scale of the comeback promotion is also overwhelming. BTS will hold the comeback stage "BTS comeback live: ARIRANG" at 8 p.m. on March 21 at Gwanghwamun Square, the heart of Seoul. This is the first time a singer has held a solo concert at Gwanghwamun Square.
In particular, this concert will be streamed live in real time to more than 190 countries and regions worldwide through a collaboration with Netflix. It is the first case of a live event held in Korea being broadcast worldwide via Netflix, demonstrating BTS's global influence.
On March 27, the documentary film BTS: The Return, closely following the making of the new album, will be released exclusively on Netflix to quench fans' thirst.
The concert fever continues to stadiums around the world. Starting April 9 at Goyang Sports Complex, BTS will embark on a large-scale world tour, BTS world tour "ARIRANG," of 82 shows across 34 cities worldwide. This is the most dates ever for a K-pop single tour.
North American and European tour dates sold out as soon as tickets went on sale, and notably they will become the first Korean artist to play solo at several stadiums, including Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, marking another milestone.
After a long 3 years and 9 months, as RM vowed that they would "begin operations again," the world is watching March 20 to see what tremor the deliberately prepared ARIRANG project will deliver to the global music market.
[Photo] BigHit Music
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