- Title: BTS fans gather at London's HMV for release of K-pop band's comeback album
- Date: 20th March 2026
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MARCH 20, 2026) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) BTS FAN, CELINE, 47, ON WHAT SHE THOUGHT OF LEAD SONG "SWIM" MUSIC VIDEO BY BTS, SAYING: "Oh yeah, last night we did not sleep. We didn't sleep (until) 4 a.m. (0400 GMT) UK time. We sing to 'SWIM'. Oh, the music video was, the more we listened to that music video, the more we liked it. At firs
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Arirang BTS BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG BTS album launch HMV music store London SWIM fans
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: UK
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA007557619032026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PLEASE NOTE: FOR "SWIM" MUSIC VIDEO BY BTS, PLEASE SEE EDIT 5706-MUSIC-BTS/
BTS fans gathered at a central London music store as soon as it opened on Friday (March 20) to grab copies of the K-pop superstar group's comeback album "ARIRANG."
Some told Reuters they had hardly got any sleep and wanted to be up early to join the queue at the HMV store on Oxford Street.
The "ARIRANG" vinyl albums each feature an image of a band member, either RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V or Jungkook. Some fans were not able to decide which one to buy and purchased more than one copy.
"I feel like they've grown so much and we've grown with them. I mean, they've been my youth pretty much," said 28 year-old fan Gamze, who purchased four albums in store and ordered the rest online. "It's been quite difficult times actually in the last couple of years, just in the world. And they've really... been something to hold on to."
Indian fan Srishti, 23, who is studying in London, said it was the first time she had been able to buy the boy band's merchandise, and credited their music and influence to having "saved my life when I was in a very bad place."
She also said she needed to listen to leading song "SWIM" to "decipher the meaning for it" because "it looks very deep," but it is "amazing."
Another fan, Celine, 47, said she had not been sure about the song to begin with as it was a "new style" for the group, but "the more I listen - and I have listened to it no-stop - I just love it now."
BTS is holding a global live-streamed concert on Saturday (March 21). Entitled "BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG," it will be the seven-member group's first performance in more than three years since completing their mandatory military service.
Playing in London on July 6-7 this year, fans said the scramble for BTS tour tickets was tough, with some being successful, but others less so. However, they were all looking forward to getting up for 11 a.m. local time on Saturday to watch the streamed comeback concert from iconic Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.
"I'm fully prepared because it's very official compared to before," said 21 year-old fan and student Siddhi. "We had to like kind of try to find ways to watch their concerts. But now... it's right there and you can watch it."
"I'm just excited to see them back on stage," said Srishti.
"ARIRANG" is the group's fifth studio album with 14 tracks, with writing and producing by artists including Diplo, Ryan Tedder of One Republic and BTS' longtime collaborator Pdogg. The album was inspired by a traditional Korean folk song of the same name that has "long symbolized themes of distance, longing and resilience across generations," according to the band's press release.
"BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG" will be streamed on Netflix at 8 p.m. local time (1100 GMT).
(Production: Ben Makori, Lisa Giles-Keddie) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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