Seven figures in black jackets resembling "dopo" — traditional Korean overcoats — or armor walked along the "eodo," the ceremonial path once reserved for Joseon kings at Gyeongbok Palace. As they took the stage at Gwanghwamun Square, five female "sorikkun," or traditional vocalists, dressed in hanbok belted out the folk song "Arirang" to the rhythm of drums and bamboo flutes. The visual spectacle marked the opening of "BTS COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG" on March 21, ending a nearly four-year hiatus for the pop group. Streamed to 190 countries on Netflix, the concert before tens of thousands of fans signaled a cultural homecoming. It showed that the band placed Korean cultural identity at the center of their global strategy. "As a group made up entirely of Koreans, we will return to our roots," the members said. The pivot to tradition represented a significant departure. According to a March 22 report by the Hankook Ilbo, there was some internal pushback within BTS while finalizing the concept for their comeback. The group felt the pressure of a significant change in direction after reachi