“Seeing foreigners sing along to the chorus of ‘ARIRANG’ will be incredibly iconic.” The prediction by Bang Si Hyuk is now becoming reality. BTS is sweeping the globe with their new album “ARIRANG,” proving their unstoppable global influence.
With their 5th full-length album ARIRANG, fully produced by Bang Si Hyuk, BTS is once again leading the global spread of Korean culture.
Their comeback show alone carried extraordinary meaning. On March 21, BTS held “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG” at Gwanghwamun Square, transforming a simple comeback stage into a cultural statement. By naming the album after Korea’s most iconic folk song and performing at one of the nation’s most symbolic locations, BTS created a historic moment, capturing both Gwanghwamun and all seven members in one powerful frame.
The choice of venue was reportedly Bang Si Hyuk’s idea. HYBE Music Group APAC CEO Yoo Dong Joo explained during a press conference that the decision reflected BTS’s identity and their journey. “We thought deeply about what defines BTS and what only BTS can do. After nearly four years, this comeback represents both their past and future. Producer Bang Si Hyuk emphasized that BTS, who rose from Korea to global superstardom, should begin again from Korea’s most symbolic place.”
BTS continued their global momentum on March 24 with a special event, “Spotify X BTS: SWIMSIDE,” held at Pier 17 Rooftop in New York. Fans waiting for the group were seen singing along to the track “Body to Body,” and when the ARIRANG sample played, the crowd erupted into a massive singalong, drawing widespread attention.
Previously, Bang Si Hyuk had predicted that when performing in front of tens of thousands of fans, more than half many of them foreigners would sing along to ARIRANG. That vision has now come true, proving the global power of Korean cultural elements embedded in BTS’s music.
BTS also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on March 26–27, where they gifted host Jimmy Fallon traditional Korean slippers and performed at the Guggenheim Museum with cushions instead of chairs, subtly introducing Korean cultural aesthetics to a global audience.
The results speak for themselves. According to Hanteo Chart, ARIRANG, released on March 20, surpassed 4.16 million copies in its first week, setting a new personal record for BTS. The album became a million-seller within just 10 minutes of release and sold 3.98 million copies on its first day alone the highest single-day sales for any album released in 2026.
Globally, the momentum continues. On Apple Music, the album topped charts in 115 countries and regions, including the United States, Japan, Germany, and Mexico. It also recorded the highest first-day streams in BTS’s history, making them the most-streamed artist on the platform that day.
According to Billboard’s preview chart released on March 30, ARIRANG debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200, marking BTS’s seventh chart-topping album.
In Japan, the album topped Oricon’s Weekly Combined Album Ranking, becoming BTS’s seventh No.1 entry while also recording the highest weekly sales among foreign artists this year. It also dominated multiple charts, including Weekly Album Ranking, Weekly Digital Album Ranking, and Western Music Album Ranking.
The album’s success extends across Europe and beyond. It topped the UK Official Albums Chart Top 100, France’s SNEP Top Albums, Australia’s ARIA Top 50 Albums and Vinyl Chart, and Germany’s Official Charts. Notably, BTS became the first group in chart history to simultaneously top both album and single charts in Germany.
Domestically, BTS swept first place on major Korean music shows including Show Champion, M Countdown, Music Bank, and Inkigayo without even making broadcast appearances.
Sources: Daum