{"id":351812,"date":"2026-03-22T05:00:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T05:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/351812\/"},"modified":"2026-03-22T05:00:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T05:00:13","slug":"imagine-foreigners-singing-arirang-how-bang-si-hyuk-persuaded-bts-to-include-the-traditional-song","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/351812\/","title":{"rendered":"Imagine foreigners singing \u2018Arirang’: How Bang Si-hyuk persuaded BTS to include the traditional song"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"HYBE<\/p>\n

HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk \/ Yonhap<\/p>\n

Global K-pop group BTS is drawing attention for incorporating the traditional Korean folk song \u201cArirang\u201d into its new track \u201cBody to Body,\u201d a move that reflects both artistic ambition and careful deliberation.<\/p>\n

The song, included on BTS\u2019s latest album \u201cArirang,\u201d features the familiar melody of \u201cArirang\u201d layered with dynamic samulnori percussion and hip-hop elements. According to the music platform Melon, March 21, \u201cBody to Body\u201d ranked No. 4 on the daily chart, following the album\u2019s lead-off track \u201cSWIM,\u201d which placed first the previous day.<\/p>\n

Interest in the track has also brought attention to how the traditional melody came to be included. According to industry sources, the idea was proposed by Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of HYBE and the album\u2019s executive producer.<\/p>\n

While BTS members agreed on the album\u2019s concept of revisiting their roots, opinions reportedly differed on whether to incorporate \u201cArirang,\u201d with some expressing concern that it could feel overly direct or be perceived as excessive nationalism.<\/p>\n

During a songwriting camp held in Los Angeles last summer, BTS members and producer Pdogg repeatedly tested versions of the track with and without the \u201cArirang\u201d sample, engaging in extended discussions. Creative director Lee Bo-young also joined the process, sharing perspectives on the song\u2019s cultural meaning.<\/p>\n

A HYBE official said, \u201cChairman Bang suggested that the members imagine a scene where foreign audiences sing \u2018Arirang\u2019 together at a stadium concert.\u201d The official added that the final decision was left to the members, who continued discussions after returning to Seoul before ultimately choosing to include the traditional melody.<\/p>\n

\"BTS'<\/p>\n

BTS’ RM, left, with HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk \/ Courtesy of HYBE<\/p>\n

Bang is also known to have contributed to incorporating the sound of the Sacred Bell of Great King Seongdeok into the album after visiting the National Museum of Korea in October last year.<\/p>\n

The group\u2019s comeback performance at Gwanghwamun Square was likewise part of Bang\u2019s broader vision. He was quoted as saying that BTS, having risen to global prominence from Korea, should return to \u201cthe most symbolic place\u201d in the country.<\/p>\n

\"BTS<\/p>\n

BTS \/ Courtesy of BigHit Music<\/p>\n

International media have responded positively to the track. U.S. magazine Rolling Stone described \u201cArirang\u201d as a song historically associated with mourning and resistance, noting that \u201cBody to Body\u201d captures a powerful moment where the ancient and the modern intersect. Music outlet Clash said the track\u2019s use of the melody reinforces BTS\u2019s Korean roots while highlighting their musical evolution.<\/p>\n

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk \/ Yonhap Global K-pop group BTS is drawing attention for incorporating the traditional Korean…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":351813,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[146,85,46,409],"class_list":["post-351812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-music","tag-entertainment","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-music"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/351812","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=351812"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/351812\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/351813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=351812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=351812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=351812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}