Purple time capsule, Gyeongbokgung Palace footage, Arirang muse… BTS rides on cultural heritage
Symbols marking the return of K-pop group BTS—including “Arirang,” “Gyeongbokgung Palace,” and “Gwanghwamun Square”—are expected to draw global attention to Korea’s cultural heritage.
BTS will hold their comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on June 21, marking their first performance in three years and nine months. The group previously filmed promotional content at Gyeongbokgung Palace and will walk from the palace to Gwanghwamun Square on the day of the concert. “Arirang” is also the title of their new album.
According to cultural sector sources on June 18, the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently renovated its third-floor multipurpose hall and relocated BTS’s “time capsule” for exhibition there. The museum is adjacent to Gwanghwamun Square, allowing visitors to experience BTS memorabilia.
The time capsule was presented by BTS members to then-President Moon Jae-in at the “Youth Day” ceremony held at Cheongwadae (the former presidential residence) on September 19, 2020, where they attended as “youth representatives.” The exterior is purple, BTS’s signature color. The capsule reportedly contains items symbolizing BTS’s music, youth, and fans. It is scheduled to be opened on Youth Day in 2039—19 years after 2020, representing the age of adulthood (19 years old).
The museum had previously displayed the time capsule alongside video footage of BTS members in the fifth-floor history hall. The exhibit has now been moved to the third-floor multipurpose hall, which sees higher foot traffic.
The Korea Heritage Promotion Agency under the Korea Heritage Service is showcasing various traditional culture merchandise themed around Arirang and Gyeongbokgung at the “K-Heritage Store” inside the National Palace Museum of Korea at Gyeongbokgung.
Purple time capsule, Gyeongbokgung Palace footage, Arirang muse… BTS rides on cultural heritage
The Korea Heritage Service recently posted on its official channels, “Gyeongbokgung Palace and BTS reunite after six years,” explaining the significance of the palace where BTS filmed their promotional video. The footage harmoniously blends Korea’s classical beauty with BTS’s contemporary sensibility, featuring iconic locations within Gyeongbokgung, the nation’s most representative royal palace.
The Korea Heritage Service also released a map marking the specific locations within the palace where the members filmed.
This is not BTS’s first time filming at Gyeongbokgung. In 2020, the group performed against the backdrop of Geunjeongjeon Hall and Gyeonghoeru Pavilion as part of a special week-long feature on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
Purple time capsule, Gyeongbokgung Palace footage, Arirang muse… BTS rides on cultural heritage
The Korea Heritage Service noted, “It has been six years since their last filming here. In the meantime, Gwanghwamun Gate’s signboard has been replaced with gold lettering on a black background, and Woldae, the elevated platform that served as a communication space between the king and his subjects, has been restored.”
Cultural merchandise tied to BTS is also being released. The National Museum of Korea Cultural Foundation under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has partnered with HYBE to launch new “MUTES” products commemorating BTS’s return. Starting June 20, the album release date, fans can purchase hairpins, hair clips, bags, and skirts featuring patterns from the “Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok” (also known as the Emille Bell), a National Treasure and masterpiece of Unified Silla.