K-pop megastars BTS released their fifth studio album on Friday, their first in nearly four years, ahead of a major comeback concert in Seoul.
The 14-track album, titled “ARIRANG,” takes its name from a traditional Korean folk song. It is presented as a reflection of the group’s roots and identity and has been called “a love letter to their home country” by Billboard.
The release follows a hiatus during which members completed about 18 months of mandatory military service. “We gave deep thought to our identity — and how best to express ourselves authentically — across the entirety of our music and performances,” BTS member Jimin said ahead of the release. “As an extension of that process, we also revisited the significance of our background as a group comprised entirely of Korean members.”
BTS will perform songs from the new album at an open-air concert at Seoul’s historic Gwanghwamun Square on Saturday. Around 260,000 people are expected to attend, with hotels in Seoul fully booked as thousands travel from around the world to see the group.
Some fans, like Mara Cristia Yao and Rodessa Ericka Bonon from the Philippines, who were unable to secure concert tickets, remained in Seoul to be near the event. “We are just going to come to this area anyway. We are figuring out where to position ourselves tomorrow,” Yao told AFP.
The concert will be livestreamed by Netflix to about 190 countries. BTS will then embark on a world tour in April that is expected to last nearly three months.
Edited by: Kieran Burke