Mar 21, 2026 2:25pm IST
BTS’s Comeback Album ‘ARIRANG’ Sets New K-Pop Record; Sells Nearly 4 Million Copies in 24 Hours of Release
BTS’s new album, “ARIRANG,” released after a three-year, nine-month hiatus, sold 3.98 million copies on its first day, according to BigHit Music. The album set a new K-pop record, breaking BTS’s previous first-week milestone of 3.37 million copies set by "Map of the Soul: 7" in February 2020, the label said.
The album has topped international charts, highlighting BTS’s global influence.
The music video for “Swim” demonstrated its worldwide success by trending at No. 1 in 70 countries, including the US, UK, Mexico, and France, among others.
BTS members have described “Swim” as a track that celebrates the spirit of a human being to move ahead despite setbacks. They said it is about resilience and fortitude. The song is produced by Tyler Spry and Leclair.
The album “ARIRANG” comprised a total of 14 tracks with leading music producers and songwriters including Diplo, James Essien, Sean Foreman, Tyler Spry, Jamison Baken, Ryan Tedder, RM, Kirsten Allyssa Spencer, Pdogg and Derrick Milano.
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BTS will soon embark on a long world tour and will travel to North and South America, Asia and Europe, covering many countries.
The band is set to hold their highly anticipated BTS The Comeback Live: ARIRANG concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, which will be broadcast live on Netflix on March 21, 2026.
BTS will also feature in the Netflix documentary titled “BTS: THE RETURN,” which captures the emotions of band members, RM, Jin, Jungkook, SUGA, Jimin, V and J-hope while preparing for their comeback album. It will release on March 27.
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