BTS named their new album Arirang. What is remarkable about their choice? | South Korea

What is Arirang?

“Arirang” is the title of the most popular folk song on the Korean peninsula, an unofficial and emotional national anthem that has resonated across generations. Its origins are believed to extend back centuries.

There is no single agreed upon definition of what Arirang specifically means. Some scholars suggest that the word “ari” is derived from an ancient Korean word meaning “beautiful” or “painful”, combined with the word “rang” meaning “beloved”, although this remains a disputed folk etymology. Images of crossing the Arirang mountain range or mountain pass indicate a transition from despair to hope, or a journey of hardship toward something better.

The song exists in over 60 versions with over 3,600 recorded lyrical variations, with the most popular version using the phrase “Arirang, arirang, arariyo”, where “arariyo” likely functions more as an emotional refrain than a literal word.

The melody is simple, flexible, easy to learn and easy to adapt. Anyone can sing Arirang, and anyone can add verses that reflect their own experiences.

Through the generations, Koreans have poured their joys, sorrows, longings, and resilience into its lines. Arirang is sung in rice fields, at protests, at family gatherings and at national celebrations.

Why is Arirang important to Koreans?

Arirang became a symbol of resistance during Japanese colonial rule of Korea from 1910 to 1945, especially after the 1926 silent film of the same name. The film tells the story of a Korean man who became mad after being tortured by Japanese authorities. When the theme song was played, the audience is said to have cried. The colonial government later banned the song.

However, Arirang’s importance extends beyond resistance or politics. It is one of the few cultural elements that has historically transcended the division of the Korean Peninsula, even as political relations have deteriorated.

Both North and South Korea have registered it with UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. When athletes from the two Koreas marched together at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, Arirang was played instead of the two national anthems.

The song has become a cultural ambassador for Korea and what it means to be Korean.

Why is this important to BTS?

At a time when many major K-Pop groups are adopting global images and aesthetics to appeal to global audiences, BTS’s choice to name their new album Arirang already signals a clear affirmation of their identity.

The group has consistently embraced their Korean roots, from incorporating traditional clothing known as hanbok into their music videos and addressing Korean social issues in song lyrics to performing their Arirang variety on stage.

By choosing this title, BTS is positioning their comeback not as a reinvention but as a comeback. Their label BigHit Music says the album captures the “longing and deep love” at the heart of BTS’ story, with Arirang serving as a symbolic expression of those feelings.

For the millions of fans around the world who experience or rediscover the magic of Arirang through BTS, the album is set to provide an entry point into the cultural institution that shaped the world’s biggest pop group.