BTS has drawn attention after a documentary revealed discussions about their album ‘Arirang’ and its heavy use of English lyrics.
The members openly shared their concerns during the process. Suga said, “Overall, there are too many English lyrics, so I think it’d be better to include more Korean”, especially for the rap parts.
RM also expressed worry about the direction, saying, “Because this album needs to feel kind of authentic, and if there’s too much English…” showing concern about maintaining their identity.
However, the idea was challenged as the team discussed making the album more global. One producer responded, “Authenticity is important, but if we want the album to be more global, I think it’s something we have to try”.
The members also noted practical issues, with RM explaining, “Realistically, we don’t have enough time to completely fix the English pronunciation either”.
Despite their concerns, the direction toward English lyrics continued, as the album aimed for a wider global audience.
After the documentary was released, Korean netizens reacted strongly. Some felt the members’ opinions were not fully considered, saying they looked “frustrated” and that their suggestions were “shut down”.
Others questioned the decision, with comments like, “They became big with their early releases which were in Korean”, and “The point of K-pop is to experience the Korean part of it”.
Some also criticized the final result, asking why an album called “Arirang” would focus heavily on English lyrics, while others questioned the production decisions behind the scenes.
The discussion continues as viewers share mixed reactions to the balance between global appeal and maintaining the group’s original identity.
Source: [1]
