BTS to Make Comeback on March 20 with Fifth Studio Album “Arirang”... Ranked as the Most Beloved Global Figure in 2025

BTS will release their fifth studio album, “Arirang,” on March 20, officially resuming group activities with members who have completed their military service. This comeback comes approximately four months after member Jimin stated during a livestream on November 1, 2025, that the recording of the new album had just been finished. “Arirang” is a traditional folk song that has been cherished across the Korean Peninsula for generations, transcending time and era. HYBE explained the album’s philosophy by saying, “Arirang is a song that has long been associated with emotions of connection, distance, and reunion.” BTS created this album through a composition camp, with SUGA revealing that “each member took the lead in writing lyrics for one of the tracks.” Over the past three years, the members focused on individual solo projects and completed their military service, further refining their respective musical identities. RM shared, “The music is really good,” adding, “Everyone is working hard, so please look forward to it,” while Jung Kook explained that “the improved composition process provided a fresh experience for the members.” J-Hope expressed his excitement in an interview with Apple Music in April 2025 by saying, “The various identities created independently by each of us will turn into tremendous energy when combined as BTS.” On March 20 at 1 p.m., BTS will hold the “BTS Comeback Live: Arirang” concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. This performance is set to be streamed live to over 190 countries and regions worldwide via Netflix. From March 20 to April 12, the “BTS The City Arirang Seoul” project will take place, during which major landmarks in Seoul such as Sungnyemun Gate and Seoul Tower will be illuminated with media facades. A lounge-style program featuring BTS’s music will be established at Yeouido Hangang Park, and various areas in Seoul’s city center will be transformed into exhibition spaces. According to the recent “2025 Annual Report” released by global content analysis firm Parrot Analytics, BTS ranked first in the “Person of the Year Under 30” category. The report stated that “even though group activities were limited in 2025, BTS continued to generate repeated surges in demand, serving as the focal point of the year.” Through BTS FESTA and individual solo activities, they maintained an overwhelming advantage in terms of visibility and interest, indicating that BTS itself functions as a cultural infrastructure. ENHYPEN, also under HYBE, ranked second, while SEVENTEEN came in eighth. The securities industry is equally enthusiastic about BTS’s comeback. Hana Securities estimated HYBE’s operating profit for 2026 at around 500.6 billion won, taking into account BTS’s full-group activities and world tours, and analyzed that sales generated solely from BTS’s comeback could reach approximately 1.2 trillion won. The firm further predicted, “This year, in addition to BTS’s comeback, there is optimism regarding the profit turnaround of Weverse and strong momentum from major IPs, and since BTS’s world tours could impact results until at least the second quarter, performance concerns are not significant for the time being.”