Netflix Releases Documentary “BTS: The Return” Featuring Making of “Arirang”

Netflix released the documentary “BTS: The Return” on March 27, documenting the production process of BTS’s new album “Arirang.” The 91-minute film vividly captures BTS’s journey back to music after nearly three years off due to military service.

The documentary was directed by Vietnamese-American filmmaker Bao Nguyen, with production handled by Sony’s “This Machine Filmworks” producer Jane Cha. It was a highly unusual decision for HYBE to entrust such an important project to a director who was neither from within the company nor Korean. The film uses observational footage to show the seven members living together in a house in Los Angeles as they work on the new album. It captures them cooking, drinking soju while discussing lyrics, playing in the pool, and walking on the beach, all while candidly reflecting on the weight of their fame.

Creativity and autonomy among the members were particularly evident during the songwriting process. J-Hope clearly expressed his opinion by saying “That’s not it,” criticizing what he viewed as excessive expansion sampling suggested by HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk. This scene became a topic of discussion on social media, leading fans to agree that J-Hope was right.

“Arirang,” released on March 20, draws its title from a Korean folk song with a history of over 100 years. The album features bold pop experimentation and reflects Korea’s national pride. It set a new record for the highest daily single streams on Spotify and achieved the highest streaming total for a K-pop album in the platform’s history. Just two days after its release, BTS held their first performance in 3 years and 9 months at Gwanghwamun Plaza, with 18.4 million viewers tuning in via Netflix’s global live broadcast.

This documentary clearly demonstrates HYBE and Netflix’s intention to reach not only domestic fans but also global audiences unfamiliar with BTS. Through its cinematic visuals and intimate observations, it serves as a medium to share the moment of this world’s largest group’s rebirth with the entire world.