Why did BTS name their album “Arirang”?

BTS’s choice of the title “Arirang” draws on the song’s deep cultural significance as one of Korea’s most widely recognized and historically resonant folk traditions. Often regarded as an unofficial national song in both North and South Korea, “Arirang” has long been associated with themes of love, longing, and resilience, as well as with shared cultural heritage across the Korean peninsula. By invoking “Arirang,” the group signals an engagement with these themes and with Korean cultural roots more broadly.