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BTS has officially announced their fifth full-length album, and it is called ARIRANG.

The album, set to release on March 20, as promised, will be followed by the K-Pop group’s hotly anticipated comeback tour, spanning 34 cities with 79 performances. ARIRANG’s announcement came through BigHit’s social media channels on Thursday, with pre-orders opening January 16.

One must be wondering the significance behind the album’s title. Well, for those who are unfamiliar with Korean cultural history, let us tell you, the title holds meaning that goes far beyond being merely a name.

Arirang is the name of the Korean peninsula’s most beloved folk song, according to The Guardian. Even though there is no single agreed-upon definition for what Arirang specifically means, some scholars suggest “ari” derives from an old Korean word meaning “beautiful” or “aching”, paired with “rang” meaning “beloved”, though this remains contested folk etymology. The imagery of crossing the Arirang ridge or mountain pass signifies moving from despair to hope, or a journey from hardship towards something better.

Arirang’s simple melody and flexibility make it a crowd favourite as it is easy to learn and adapt. Across generations, Koreans have poured their joys, sorrows, longings and resilience into its lines. In addition to becoming a symbol of resistance during Japan’s colonial rule from 1910 to 1945, Arirang has also been sung at rice paddies, protests, family gatherings and national ceremonies, The Guardian reported.

The 600-year-old song, with 3600 renditions of 60 different versions, holds a unique place in Korean identity. As per Forbes, the unofficial folk song appears twice on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, submitted by South Korea in 2012 and North Korea in 2014.

The unofficial anthem, according to Forbes, is sung by virtually all Koreans regardless of region or generation.

For BTS, naming their album ARIRANG is a deeply intentional choice. We have seen the band’s persistent effort to celebrate their Korean identity throughout their global career. Whether it is incorporating Korean traditional instruments and hanbok in performances, or addressing Korean social issues in their lyrics.

Their label, BigHit Music, described the word Arirang as a symbolic expression of the emotions the group seeks to portray, promising that the album will address universal emotions expected to resonate globally.

“As BTS prepares for its long-awaited return, it naturally looked back on its roots, beginnings and inner stories”, BigHit said in a statement, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported.

The band’s world tour will kick off in South Korea’s Goyang on April 9, with two additional concerts in the city before moving on to neighbouring Japan.

They will then head to the United States and Europe, with the tour ending in March 2027 in Manila.