The Korean pop group BTS has made a comeback with 14 new songs and a world tour after a four-year hiatus. The group's members have not performed together since 2022, when they took a break to complete South Korea's mandatory military service. The album, titled Arirang, has been pre-saved over five million times on Spotify.
In Gothenburg, Sweden, fans Sara Anvestad and Josefine Magnell dedicated their day to the album release, listening together for the first time. Anvestad expressed initial fear about not liking the album, while Magnell noted the fun of hearing others' opinions and the contagious energy of the group. Some fans have criticized BTS for becoming too Western in their music, but the Gothenburg fans believe the new album shows the band has not forgotten its roots.
Anvestad expressed initial fear about not liking the album
The album title Arirang is the name of a well-known folk song often seen as an unofficial national anthem on the Korean Peninsula. BTS will hold a large concert in central Seoul, expected to attract several hundred thousand people, with a live broadcast worldwide, and fans in Gothenburg plan to watch.
Magnell noted the fun of hearing others' opinions and the contagious energy of the group