BTS' animated teaser traces global journey of 'Arirang'

BTS' animated teaser traces global journey of 'Arirang'

K-pop supergroup BTS released an animated teaser Friday for its upcoming full-length album “Arirang,” using imagery tied to the global journey of Korea’s best-known folk songof the same name. The video, posted on the group’s official social media accounts, opens with seven young men winding a gramophone as the melody of “Arirang” begins to play. They are later shown crossing the Pacific Ocean by boat, a symbolic narrative that frames the song’s spread beyond Korea. The clip transitions to a modern concert setting, depicting BTS performing before rotating crowds, linking the group’s contemporary global success with the folk song’s historical movement overseas. BigHit Music said the concept was inspired by records showing that one of the earliest known recordings of “Arirang” was made in Washington, D.C., in 1896. The agency described the video as an attempt to introduce international audiences to the cultural and emotional background of the song. “We wanted to share the story behind ‘Arirang’ with listeners who may not be familiar with it,” the agency said. BT

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