BTS named their new album Arirang. What is so striking about their choice?

"Arirang is the title of the Korean peninsula's most beloved folk song, an unofficial and sentimental national anthem that has resonated across generations. Its origins are believed to stretch back centuries. There is no single agreed-upon definition for what Arirang specifically means. Some scholars suggest ari derives from an old Korean word meaning beautiful or aching, paired with rang meaning beloved, though this remains contested folk etymology."

"The imagery of crossing the Arirang ridge or mountain pass alludes to moving from despair to hope, or a journey from hardship towards something better. The song exists in more than 60 versions with more than 3,600 recorded lyrical variations, with the most famous version using the refrain Arirang, arirang, arariyo, where arariyo likely functions more as an emotional refrain than a literal word."

"Anyone can sing Arirang, and anyone can add verses to reflect their own experiences. Across generations, Koreans have poured their joys, sorrows, longings and resilience into its lines. Arirang has been sung in rice paddies and at protests, at family gatherings and national ceremonies. Arirang became a symbol of resistance during Japan's colonial rule of Korea from 1910 to 1945, particularly after the 1926 silent film of the same name."

Arirang is a centuries-old Korean folk song regarded as an unofficial sentimental national anthem. The name lacks a single agreed meaning; some scholars link ari to an old Korean word meaning beautiful or aching and rang to beloved, though that etymology is contested. Imagery of crossing the Arirang ridge evokes movement from despair to hope. The song exists in over 60 versions with more than 3,600 lyrical variations; the best-known refrain is Arirang, arirang, arariyo, with arariyo serving as an emotional refrain. The melody is simple and flexible, easy to learn and adapt. Arirang has been sung in everyday and political contexts, became a symbol of resistance during Japanese colonial rule and was later banned by colonial authorities. Both North and South Korea have registered Arirang with UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.

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