BTS releases their 5th album "ARIRANG" today, marking their return after 3 years and 9 months, with 14 tracks including "SWIM."

BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan) will release their 5th full album "ARIRANG" today (20th) at 1 PM. This is their first new release in 3 years and 9 months since the Anthology Album "Proof" in June 2022. Through this activity, they will open a new chapter for the group, "BTS 2.0." The album, which contains the title track "SWIM" and a total of 14 songs, incorporates BTS's identity and universal emotions. BTS has infused their honest experiences and struggles into all the songs to showcase "the current BTS." They will actively engage in activities following the release of the 5th full album "ARIRANG." At 2 PM today, they will hold "STUDIO NOTES | ARIRANG" on the Global Superfan Platform "Weverse" to commemorate their comeback. The next day, on the 21st at 8 PM, they will host "BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG" in the Gwanghwamun Square area. Having completed preparations to meet music fans worldwide, they released a Q&A about the album and activities through BIGHIT MUSIC. - BTS arrives on a sailboat! Second teaser for the title track "SWIM" released - BTS's full group comeback performance is just 3 days away! Solo posters of all 7 members are being released one after another. - How do you feel about your comeback after 3 years and 9 months? All: We feel excited and nervous, but above all, we are overwhelmed with emotion. Just being able to gather together as seven and create something is a joy, and we are grateful. We prepared well for our return, especially since ARMY (the name for BTS fans) has waited so long. It is a great thrill and happiness to be able to show a good image again. Since this is a long-awaited group album, we have high expectations, but as long as we are together with ARMY, we have no major worries. - What message do you want to convey with this album? SUGA: We struggled with what represents us the most. Rather than a grand message, we focused on "ourselves." Jimin: I wanted to convey the idea of continuing to move forward. There is always pressure to show something new and better, along with many worries. Still, we tried to express the feeling of swimming forward without stopping. Jungkook: I hope you think this is the most BTS-like album, filled with each person's time and color. - How did you decide on the "Korean elements" included in the album? RM: We brainstormed various ideas. During the songwriting session, we even created a song using taekwondo as a theme. Although it didn't make the album, I personally liked it a lot. I think "Korean elements" are an important keyword that can connect the seven of us. It connects to where we started, our roots. What "Korean elements" are continues to be redefined and changes over time. I think it would be interesting if we could be part of that flow. Jin/SUGA: The album logo started from Jungkook's idea. As various members' opinions were incorporated, the current album concept solidified, and since we are all Korean, there was also the idea that it would be nice to naturally include Korean elements. J-HOPE: We incorporated Korean culture and "heung" (excitement) into the lyrics of the new songs. We tried various things to create more points where "the seven can express together." Coming back and showing our true selves ultimately starts from our roots. I believe that because our roots are solid, we are who we are today. V: All the members contributed many ideas and struggled to utilize each other's individuality. I think ARMY will also feel the joy of discovering each element. - What criteria did you set when expressing "Korean elements"? RM: Rather than bringing Korean elements as predetermined frameworks, I wanted to express them naturally in our way. I believe that when we add our interpretation and variations without excess, the emotions can be conveyed more broadly. I wanted to bring in "Arirang" in a slightly different form and reinterpret it. Jin/SUGA: Rather than forcibly including Korean elements, we focused on reflecting them in our own way. While utilizing Korean emotions, we aimed to balance it so that BTS's colors remain vivid. J-HOPE: I think balance and control are indeed important. However, I also believe that showing bold moments at key points makes it cooler. I struggled to ensure that the standards of "not overdoing it, but definitely showing at necessary moments" would be reflected in this album and stage. Jimin: In music and performance overall, we pondered what our identity and our way of expressing ourselves are, and in that extension, we began to reconsider the fact that all members are Korean. Therefore, we made Korean elements an important point. Especially since "Arirang" is a word and folk song that Koreans have been exposed to countless times since childhood, choosing it as the album title came with pressure and a sense of responsibility. - Why did you choose "SWIM" as the title track? RM: Since it is the title track, I spent the most time contemplating it. I tried for a month to create a song that surpasses "SWIM," but it wasn't easy. When I first heard this song, I felt it had a refreshing charm, like Pyongyang cold noodles. The more I listened, the more I felt like I wanted to swim together. Jin: It wasn't a song that immediately whets your appetite, but it was a song with an unforgettable power the more you listen. I particularly remember the rhythm point that appears in the middle of the song (like the sound "ton-tada-dan"). Listening to that part made me forget the passage of time. J-HOPE: I worked hard to create a performance where the song could be heard well while watching the stage. There are details like movements that express waves and points that sink quietly like diving. At first, I was worried that it might feel "boring" among strong impact songs, but as I listened, it naturally blended with the sound and became comfortable. It matched the theme we wanted to convey the most, so we chose it as the title track. V: I felt that "SWIM" was the most bland among the strong-sounding songs. At first, I didn't think it was an exciting song, but the more I listened, the more I felt it was a song that could be listened to for a long time. Jungkook: The more I listened, the more I thought, "This is it." The lyrics also represent "the current BTS" well, and the performance has new points that differ from the past, so I hope you pay attention to it. - How do you want "SWIM" to be remembered by people? All: Just as a song about "life." We hope it becomes everyone's song, where each day, we splash around, breathe in and out, and swim through life. Since it is a warm song the more you listen, we would be happy if it becomes a song that gives strength while walking through each person's life. Also, like "Arirang," which has been passed down and remains by people's sides for a long time, we hope "SWIM" will also remain in many hearts for a long time. - Are there any new attempts you made in this full album? All: When you listen to all the songs in the new album, you will find that the album structure itself is solid. We focused on expanding the range of genres, sounds, and vocal expressions. Even in genres we are not familiar with, we made an effort to challenge ourselves and incorporate expressions we hadn't done before. In "FYA," the hyper-jersey bass sound stands out with rough energy, while in "Like Animals" and "Merry Go Round," we added psychedelic textures, trying different music than before. Even during recording, we made adjustments to sound relaxed and bland, incorporating subtle changes. It is difficult to say we are 100% satisfied, but we are sufficiently satisfied in that we are still changing and moving forward. - Do you have any behind-the-scenes stories from the songwriting session in Los Angeles? SUGA: We lived together while making songs. We ate together every day and had many conversations. And we spent our leisure time in our own ways. Especially every night, we talked a lot about our rookie days. Since it had been a while since we gathered together, we remembered many memories from that time. J-HOPE: There were days when the work progressed well, but on days when we hit a wall, we returned to our accommodation, encouraged each other, and cared for each other's conditions. The process of making the album while living together with the members felt refreshing. Jimin: Right after our debut, we talked about wanting to create an album just by ourselves someday. So, it was very meaningful that all seven of us had a songwriting session this time. V: On the way back from training, I heard a theme, and at that moment, inspiration struck, and I immediately tried singing it. The reaction on-site was good, and everyone liked the overall melody, so we were able to include it in this album. That song is the last track, "Into the Sun." Jungkook: Since we created over 100 songs, the process of gathering the members to listen to the demos all at once was particularly memorable. There were also songs that each of us created, so there were many songs I heard for the first time, and that process was fun and memorable. It was just very enjoyable and happy. - What does "BTS 2.0" mean to each of you? RM: I struggled to define it countless times, but it is difficult to put it into one definition. I think it is close to "balance." Half of it is about gathering the seven again, and the other half is about needing to change and move somewhere. It is not easy, but that makes it happy and interesting. Jin: I think we need to become a little more mature. We need to think more sincerely and grow further in every aspect. I want to work harder in our activities as well. SUGA: "A new beginning." J-HOPE: I see it as a meaning of further growth as an artist. I think the beginning of "2.0" is to show musical freedom and maturity while expressing ourselves as we are. Jimin: Rather than giving it a particularly grand meaning, I have a strong feeling that even if the way we express changes a little, we should continue to strive and grow as we have always done. V: I think it includes growth. There is a newness that naturally begins over time, but I also think it is an opportunity for BTS to show our experiences and growth on stage. Jungkook: Literally, "something new." It means a new direction in whatever it is. I also want to start with a new feeling. - Is there anything that hasn't changed compared to the past? RM: When I am with the members, my favorite self comes out. It is like the purity and childlike spirit of childhood. We often talk about how "it is really fun when we are together." It is not easy to meet friends who feel like family. Jin: Rather than saying we have changed, if I were to point out something that has improved, it would be that the bond between the members has deepened further. The atmosphere of naturally laughing and joking when we are together hasn't changed. Recently, we still go out to eat together if there is a delicious place. SUGA/V: I think our passion for the stage and our love for the stage have not changed. Jimin: I think there will be difficulties every time we take on new challenges in the future. So, we must continue to ponder what is right and make choices. However, the attitude of swimming forward without stopping, like in "SWIM," should remain unchanged. J-HOPE/Jungkook: Our feelings for ARMY have not changed. We are always grateful and love you. - What message do you want to convey to ARMY? All: We sincerely thank ARMY for waiting so long. We also really wanted to see you, and being able to be together as seven again is the most important thing. Let's meet through music, stages, the upcoming world tour, and various activities. Are you ready to relax and enjoy together? We have prepared many stages that you can enjoy together besides the album, so let's have fun together. We truly love you.