Mar 19, 2026 4:49pm IST
BTS – ‘ARIRANG’ Comeback Live: A Look Back At the K-Pop Boy Band Promoting Korean Heritage
BTS means the world to millions of fans worldwide. As we write this article, tourists are flying into Seoul, the capital of South Korea to see the K-Pop band perform live the songs from “ARIRANG.” Their fifth studio album, “ARIRANG,” has 14 tracks. From Tyler Spry (who has worked with Bad Bunny) to Diplo and Kevin Parker (of Tame Impala), they have roped in some of the biggest music producers. “ARIRANG” is a Korean folk song resonating with themes like love, separation and longing. They described it as a love letter to their fandom, known as ARMY. BTS has always been very proud of their Korean heritage. With tourists coming into Seoul, all art and cultural centres have geared up to showcase the best of Korean history.
BTS, who has represented South Korea at UNICEF, The White House and many diplomatic events has done its bit to promote Korean culture and heritage. From music to fashion and performances, they always carried a bit of their home with them in every part of the world.
Related Stories
The ‘Idol’ Performance at the Melon Music Awards Stage in 2018
BTS created a stage that showcased Korean culture in all its glory. From Talchum dancers to Park Jimin’s iconic fan dance, the performance was one for the history books. All the members donned Hanboks (traditional attire for Korean men) for that iconic act. They even performed in the traditional Korean attire on the Graham Norton show in the UK and "The Jimmy Fallon Show."
Jimin’s Iconic Fan Dance
Park Jimin performed the fan dance on stage at the 2018 MMA Awards as part of the "Idol" performance. His act was impeccable and he even got plaques of honour from cultural boards and national awards for the same.
SUGA supports female victims of WWII
Fans spotted SUGA (real name: Min Yoon-gi) wearing stuff from a South Korean fashion line dedicated to Korean women who suffered during the Japanese occupation in World War II.
BTS Leader RM’s Love for Korean Art
RM (real name: Kim Namjoon) the leader of BTS is one of the most respected young musicians from Asia. A prolific songwriter, he is the mind behind the layered meanings of BTS’s songs. When he is not busy with his music, RM prefers to visit art galleries worldwide. While he goes incognito, he posts a lot of pictures on his Instagram. This has increased the curiosity of people in modern Korean art. People have praised RM for his efforts. He has also bought a lot of Korean art for his home. In the past few years, artists like Yun Hyong-keun, Kim Tschang-yeul, Lee Ufan, etc have received titles of artists chosen by RM.
RM also funded the restoration of a 19th-century hwarot (traditional bridal silk robe) belonging to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). He did this as part of his efforts to support Korean cultural items overseas.
In 2022, he donated close to USD 71,600 to the Cultural Heritage Administration to support the preservation of traditional clothing. A part of the funds went to support artisans.
BTS V’s traditional look at 2025 Vogue World event
Kim Taehyung aka V wore a suit for this event but showed off his Korean heritage by incorporating a “norigae,” a traditional decorative pendant attached to a hanbok in his look. They are believed to act as good luck charms. He also wore a jade accessory which reminded fans of the belts worn by Joseon kings. His look also featured a watch that was 120 years old belonging to the era of King Gojong.
All members of BTS have done their part to promote tourism, Korean food, beauty products and so on. Kim Seokjin is known for his love for traditional liquor while Jungkook has worn the modern hanbok on many stages. J-hope (real name: Jung Hoseok) used Korean elements in his street dance performances.
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.