This image released by Netflix shows promotional art for the documentary “BTS: The Return.” (Netflix via AP)
All seven members log on to a live broadcast, broadcast from the beach. A few years ago, the photo was popular. But after K-pop band BTS took a full-time hiatus for nearly four years, it was inspiring.
This is the scene that opens BTS: The Return, a new Netflix documentary from director Bao Nguyen. The mostly Korean-language film offers an intimate look at BTS’s journey to their latest album, “ARIRANG,” which was released on Friday. It also follows the group consisting of seven members – RM, Jin, Jimin, V, Suga,
Jungkook
and J-Hope – as they learned to adapt to their fast-paced life together again.Here are some key takeaways from the documentary, which premieres on Netflix on Friday, March 27.
Mandatory military service in South Korea is coming quickly
As BTS fans know well, “ARIRANG” is the band’s first full-length release since all seven members completed their mandatory military service in South Korea. In South Korea, all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 28 are required by law to perform military service for 18 to 21 months under a conscription system aimed at deterring aggression by North Korea.In the documentary, mention of BTS’s service comes up immediately. In the first minute, while the group was filming the live video on the beach, RM mentioned that he “learned to hustle” in the military.
It then cuts to shots of the men shaving their heads and putting on their uniforms – and then quickly returning to the band. In fact, they have been separated for several years. Before announcing their comeback in June, all seven members had not been seen broadcasting live together since September 2022.
The road to Arirang was fast
Shortly after returning from mandatory service, the band moved to Los Angeles during the summer of 2025 to begin work on “ARIRANG”, their fifth 14-track studio album and first in nearly four years. They lived in the same house together. It was tight quarters and a tight turnaround: In the film, Gene says he joined the band in Los Angeles the day after completing his 2025 solo tour. That’s why he missed some early writing and recording.The ride was bumpy too. As RM mentioned in the film, the longevity of a K-Pop group is not guaranteed. Fans of the genre may be familiar with what is referred to as the “seven-year curse,” where a group disbands, loses members, contracts expire, and then falls apart. This was not the case for BTS, which is still widely considered one of the most popular groups on the planet. The question for them became: Where does their voice go from here?“We do a lot of experimentation, trying to figure out what makes us special,” RM said. “What makes us BTS?”They also felt pressure to deliver a good album, quickly.
“We’ve been out for too long,” Jimin said in one of the dinner scenes. “Now that we’re finally out of the army, we don’t want to extend this vacation.”
Los Angeles was a creative hub
Working in and around Hollywood has been a source of creativity for the band. The documentary features clips of people in the studio working with some well-known producers such as Diplo and South Korean songwriter Pdogg.It also shows the band struggling to get a lead single and their dynamics inside the studio: Suga playing guitar, serious and hardworking, V comforting a worried Jin, etc.They then returned to South Korea to finish and mix the album.
The album really started to connect when they had a story
Boyoung Lee, executive creative director at Big Hit Music, told the band that in 1896, a group of Koreans arrived in the United States to receive education, where they met music producer and ethnologist Alice C. Fletcher. Together they recorded their first Korean-language song in the United States: “Arirang,” the traditional Korean folk song dating back to the 15th century that inspired the title of BTS’s album.This also means that the album was a true celebration of South Korea and BTS’ efforts to bring their country and culture to the world. In one scene, Suga mentioned the changes needed for the song “Normal,” which he felt originally contained too much English and not enough Korean. “For this album, authenticity is important,” RM agreed.
Preparing for their return has been daunting
Some members expressed reservations about how they would be received – what would their fans want from them after such a long period of separation? And in an industry that requires innovation? So, they went all out, and in surprising ways: In one scene, V throws a baseball into a parking lot — apparently to vent his anger.
Days later, he pitched at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles. He was clearly training not to disappoint his fans.Even when the band is relaxing at night together in their shared Los Angeles home — enjoying pork, soju, and beer — they’re still shown talking about their music, what could have been done differently in the studio, and what they might like to try in the future. It is a 24/7 operation.“I wonder if we did a good job here,” Jungkook asked out loud.
They weren’t sure that “Swim” was ARIRANG’s first single
Some band members thought that “Swim” might be too low energy to serve as the lead single. But they also weren’t sure about the 2020 return of “Dynamite,” which was a major global hit. It was their first entirely English-language single and debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 – a first for an entirely South Korean musical act.It seems that Suga was an early believer in “swimming.” “‘Oh, can they come back with a song like that?’ I think it would be great,” he told his bandmates, imagining the fans’ reaction. RM agreed, saying, “It’s a cool, mature song for us.” “It’s time to give off a mature vibe.”Coming across as adults—and writing songs that reflected where they were in their lives—was a priority. “We’re all getting older in general,” Suga said. “We tried to express more about being adults.”
