BTS recently appeared on Apple Music’s The Zane Lowe Show, where they shared in-depth stories about their new album ARIRANG and their long-awaited return to music.
Global creative director Zane Lowe personally met with BTS at HYBE headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul. The interview captured honest conversations about their return after military service, the album’s creative process, and the deep bond that has kept the group together over the years.
Jin spoke about reuniting with the members, saying, “Living together in the United States, eating and following a routine for a long time, made me incredibly happy.”
RM added: “It felt surreal. Spending about two months working together in Los Angeles under the same roof was a turning point and felt like a dream.”
RM also highlighted the meaning behind the album’s key theme, Arirang. He explained, “Choosing ‘Arirang’ was natural. It’s a traditional Korean song full of longing and nostalgia. During my military service, I reflected on the past, missed our fans, and remembered the moments we shared. Those emotions are incorporated into this album.”
J-Hope highlighted the group’s artistic direction, saying, “Through this album, we wanted to show our roots and our identity as Koreans. We tried to capture it honestly, and I think it came out very naturally.”
Members also reflected on how military service became a time of growth. Jimin shared, “I realized how valuable it is to be able to work and dedicate yourself to something you love. Even during the service, Jungkook and I continued to practice and stay busy.”
Jungkook expressed how natural it felt to return as a group, saying, “Compared to doing things alone, working together feels more natural because that’s what we’ve always done.”
When asked about the future, Suga confidently said, “If we want, we can even go until the 80s or 90s,” while V added, “We just need to continue to make a mutual effort to last as long as possible.”
RM concluded with a heartfelt message about the group and its fans: “We are still here because we love each other so much. We have our fans and there is no reason to stop something so precious: this brand, this family. These people represent my youth. I don’t want to miss this opportunity or look back later and regret having interrupted the journey.”
Meanwhile, BTS leader RM suffered an ankle injury during rehearsals and will limit his movement during the comeback show at Gwanghwamun Square.
Sources: Daum
