BTS Arirang Tops Billboard 200 for Third Week Post-Hiatus

BTS, the globally renowned K-pop group, continues to dominate international music charts with their latest album, Arirang, which secured its third consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 as of April 2026. The septet, consisting of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook, shared candid reflections on their resurgence in a recent interview, emphasizing humility amid their achievements and a renewed focus on collaboration following a hiatus for mandatory military service.

Released in March 2026, Arirang marks BTS's first full-length album in nearly six years and has already shattered records, selling close to four million copies on its debut day. The lead single, Swim, also topped the Billboard Hot 100, underscoring the group's enduring appeal. In the week ending April 9, the album generated 124,000 equivalent units, bolstered by over 52 million on-demand streams. To celebrate the release, BTS held a free outdoor concert at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square, streamed live on Netflix, drawing massive viewership.

The group's return builds on their 2022 hiatus, during which all seven members completed South Korea's required 18-month military service. Jin enlisted first in late...