BTS RM Reveals the Untold Story Behind Regular Album No. 5 “Arirang”: “Completion Itself Is a Miracle”

The prelude to the “miracle” that broke the military hiatus, proving the value of BTS’s “ARIRANG”

“BTS”’s leader “RM” carried a crown’s weight right after completing his service, and it was never light. The creation of regular album No. 5 “ARIRANG” is more than a comeback—it is the culmination of fierce survival and artistic anguish. On the 28th, during a Weverse Live, he stood before 3.7 million viewers worldwide and called the present reunited without a single member dropping out “a miracle.” The process of pulling together the members, the fandom, and the attention of the industry—after each wandered across different genres—was like assembling the world’s most difficult puzzle.

The mature charm of his 30s shaped by LA Song Camp, the secrets of “SWIM” and “Body to Body”

The psychological pressure that had been weighing on him since the discharge of eldest member “JIN” was transformed into art through a breakthrough called “LA Song Camp.” The title track “SWIM”, born after two months of six days a week of throwing himself into the studio while effectively embracing the life of a meticulous office worker, represents the deep, seasoned maturity BTS has as it enters its 30s. The overwhelming completion—even though he originally wasn’t aiming for the title track spot—serves as proof.

Next comes the b-side “Body to Body”, BTS’s sly yet elegant move aimed at the global pop market. By inserting Korea’s traditional folk song “Arirang,” this track guides fans around the world into the dazzling “Tte-chang” (chant-along). It is, precisely, the result of carefully calculating the intense catharsis onstage. On top of that, with “No.29” sampling the majestic bell-ringing sound of the Jong of Seongdeok Daewang, the group also struck a remarkable chord by pulling off chart-topping performance for the entire album, proving that the “romance” and sincere storytelling they pursue still cuts through the world.