Entertainment, Jan 18: Global music icons BTS have set a new milestone on streaming platforms even before the release of their latest album, as their fifth studio record Arirang amassed 1.49 million pre-saves on Spotify within just two days, topping the platform’s Countdown Albums Chart.
The feat represents the strongest pre-save performance by any Asian artist since Spotify began tracking such data and stands as the second-highest total recorded by any artist worldwide. Big Hit Entertainment confirmed the achievement on Friday, following the group’s earlier announcement on January 5 through Weverse. The album is scheduled for release on March 20, 2026.
According to the agency, Arirang explores the personal growth and reflections of all seven members during their time apart. The title draws from the centuries-old Korean folk song that holds deep cultural significance across the Korean Peninsula. Scholars believe the melody dates back at least 600 years and exists in around 60 distinct versions with more than 3,600 regional variations, unified by the refrain “arirang, arirang, arariyo.”
Both South Korea and North Korea have secured UNESCO recognition for Arirang as Intangible Cultural Heritage, with listings approved in 2012 and 2014 respectively. The song is closely associated with the concept of “han,” a uniquely Korean sentiment that blends sorrow, longing and hardship with resilience and hope.
Themes of separation, endurance and reunion have long defined the folk song, and fans have linked these ideas to BTS members’ recent military obligations, which kept them away from group activities. Linguists continue to debate the meaning of the word “arirang,” with some suggesting it refers to “the beautiful one,” while others interpret it as an expression of profound longing.
Historically, the song emerged as a powerful symbol of Korean identity during Japan’s colonial rule, the Korean War and the subsequent division of the peninsula, often sung as an act of cultural resistance.
The upcoming album will feature 14 tracks and marks BTS’s first full-group recording in nearly four years. Their last collaborative release was Proof in June 2022, while Map of the Soul: 7 in February 2020 remains their most recent original studio album. Physical editions of Arirang will be released in multiple formats, including “Rooted in Korea,” “Rooted in Music” and “Living Legend,” alongside platform-exclusive versions, a “Travel Tag CD Box Set,” and limited vinyl releases.
