BTS say they're "just country kids" ahead of mega comeback concert

Seoul, South Korea - K-pop megastars BTS still see themselves as "country kids from South Korea," according to a trailer for a new documentary released Tuesday ahead of their huge comeback concert this weekend.

People walk past a billboard promoting a comeback concert of K-pop boy group BTS at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on March 17, 2026.
People walk past a billboard promoting a comeback concert of K-pop boy group BTS at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on March 17, 2026.  © Jung Yeon-je / AFP

More than a quarter of a million fans are expected to throng central Seoul on Saturday for BTS' open-air gig, the first performance in almost four years by the boy band seen as the biggest in the world.

A day before, the group's fifth studio album, ARIRANG – named after a beloved folk song about longing and separation, something of an unofficial national anthem of South Korea – will be released.

The documentary, BTS: The RETURN, will be released on Netflix on March 27, chronicling the seven-member group's comeback after completing their military service, widely seen as a grueling experience for young conscripts.

Kim Kardashian rocks icy blue contacts with daring look at Vanity Fair Oscars party
Kim Kardashian Kim Kardashian rocks icy blue contacts with daring look at Vanity Fair Oscars party

"We are still just country kids from South Korea," the group's leader RM says in the trailer.

"We are trying to find out what makes us BTS," the 31-year-old added.

BTS to make grand comeback

A woman poses for a photo in front of stairs displaying the logo of BTS' 2026 album and release date at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on January 14, 2026.
A woman poses for a photo in front of stairs displaying the logo of BTS' 2026 album and release date at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on January 14, 2026.  © Jung Yeon-je / AFP

At the height of their fame prior to their hiatus, BTS frequently ranked among the most popular artists on music streaming platform Spotify, mixing with the likes of Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber.

After visiting the White House, releasing hugely successful English-language albums, and performing at famous venues around the world, the group has chosen a historic stage at home for the grand comeback this weekend.

The concert will be staged at Seoul's sweeping Gwanghwamun Square, near the historic Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Sean Penn didn't show up to receive his Oscar for One Battle After Another – here's why!
Celebrities Sean Penn didn't show up to receive his Oscar for One Battle After Another – here's why!

The area is also where many of South Korea's political protests have taken place, including those following former president Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law in December 2024.

The trailer featured the melody from Arirang the folk song, which is associated by many with themes of resilience and enduring longing.

"Arirang is a song imbued with han," an unidentified BTS member says in the trailer, referring to the Korean term for an unresolved grief rooted in the country's history, including war, division, and family separation.

Cover photo: Jung Yeon-je / AFP

More on Celebrities: