The group BTS cited deep affection for the team and its members as the reason behind releasing its fifth album as a full group, Arirang (ARIRANG), after a long hiatus due to solo activities and military service.
According to Apple Music on the 21st, BTS recently appeared on Apple Music's Zane Lowe Show at the HYBE headquarters in Seoul, where they talked about returning to music activities, the album-making process, and their feelings after reuniting following military service.
The team's leader, RM, said in an interview, "We are still here because we love each other so much," adding, "We have our fans, and there is no reason for us to stop this precious brand and family."
He also added, "I didn't want to leave any regret like, 'Darn, we should have done it again then… it wasn't time to stop the journey,'" and "These people (the members) are my youth itself. So I don't want to miss this opportunity."
Suga said, "If we want, we can keep doing this (as a team) even when we are 80 or 90." V said, "It seems we have no choice but to keep making efforts for each other so we can last as long as possible."
Arirang, which BTS released the day before, logged album sales of 4 million copies on its release day, and the title track Swim (SWIM) went straight to No. 1 on Melon's Top 100 chart.
Regarding the album title, RM said, "Choosing the keyword 'Arirang' was natural," introducing it as "a long-standing traditional Korean song that carries longing and nostalgia within its abstract lyrics."
He continued, "During military service, I reflected on the time that passed, the longing for fans, and the moments we shared, and I put those feelings into the album."
J-Hope said, "Through this record, we wanted to show a lot of our roots and identity," adding, "Because we tried to capture those parts intact, the record came out candid and straightforward."
BTS headed to Los Angeles in the United States right after being discharged last year and immersed themselves in making the record. The experience of the seven members, who had been apart for a long time, coming together again and living side by side became a turning point for the team, the members said.
Jin said, "Living together with the members in the United States this time, eating together for a long stretch and doing things on a set schedule made me so delighted and happy."
RM said, "It felt truly strange," adding, "Living under one roof and working in Los Angeles for about two months was a major turning point and a dreamlike time."
The members also shared their thoughts on military service during the interview. Jimin said, "I felt to the bone how precious it is to work and pour passion into something," adding, "With the mindset that I needed to work harder, I kept spending time steadily even in the military, continuing practice with Jungkook."
Jungkook noted, "Because we have always done so much as a group rather than solo, a full-group return felt natural."
At 8 p.m. on the day, BTS plans to hold a free comeback performance, BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang (BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG), for one hour at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul and perform new songs and hits.