Jaehwa Bernardo

BTS in a promotional photo for 'Arirang.' Photo from BigHit Music on X

Article (news)

Return of the kings: BTS tops Billboard 200 with 'Arirang'

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774844200871photo_2026-03-30_12-14-37.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">BTS in a promotional photo for &#x27;Arirang.&#x27; <em>Photo from BigHit Music on X</em></span></span></span></div><p>The kings of K-pop are truly back! BTS&#x27; comeback album &quot;Arirang&quot; topped the Billboard 200, marking their seventh No. 1 on the major U.S. albums chart, the music publication <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/bts-arirang-no1-billboard-200-albums-chart-1236209566/"><strong>reported </strong></a>Monday.</p><p>The 14-piece record, released on March 20, debuted at No. 1 on the chart dated April 4, with 641,000 equivalent album units earned, according to Billboard.</p><p>&quot;Arirang&quot; follows the septet&#x27;s previous chart-toppers &quot;Proof&quot; (2022), &quot;Be&quot; (2020), &quot;Map of the Soul: 7&quot; (2020), &quot;Map of the Soul: Persona&quot; (2019), &quot;Love Yourself: Answer&quot; (2018) and &quot;Love Yourself: Tear&quot; (2018).</p><p>The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular album in the United States each week, measured in equivalent album units composed of album sales, track equivalent albums and streaming equivalent albums.</p><p>The number of units that &quot;Arirang&quot; earned was &quot;the largest week for an album by a group since the chart began measuring by units in December 2014,&quot; Billboard noted.</p><p>BTS logged &quot;the biggest week for an album by units earned&quot; since Taylor Swift&#x27;s &quot;The Life of a Showgirl&quot; debuted at No. 1 with a record 4.002 million units on the chart dated Oct. 18, 2025, according to Billboard.</p><p>Meanwhile, American singer Luke Combs&#x27; &quot;The Way I Am&quot; ranked No. 2, followed by Morgan Wallen&#x27;s &quot;I&#x27;m the Problem&quot; at No. 3. Harry Styles&#x27; &quot;Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.&quot; placed fourth, while Don Toliver&#x27;s &quot;Octane&quot; rounded out the top five.</p><p>Taking its title from a Korean folk song about longing and separation, &quot;Arirang&quot; is the K-pop supergroup&#x27;s first album in nearly four years and their first since all seven members completed their mandatory military service.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2026/3/20/bts-to-drop-new-album-ahead-of-comeback-mega-gig-0904"><strong>READ: New BTS album drops ahead of comeback mega-gig<br/></strong></a></div><p>A week after its release, streaming giant Netflix unveiled a documentary chronicling the making of &quot;Arirang,&quot; offering viewers insight into the creative decisions behind the record.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2026/3/17/bts-reflect-on-identity-in-trailer-for-netflix-documentary-1240"><strong>READ: BTS reflect on identity in trailer for Netflix documentary<br/></strong></a></div><p>In April, the group is set to launch its &quot;Arirang&quot; world tour in Goyang, South Korea, before heading to cities across Asia, North America, Europe and Latin America. The <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/events/2026/1/13/bts-to-bring-upcoming-world-tour-to-manila-in-march-2027-2317"><strong>Philippine stop</strong></a> will be a two-day show scheduled for March 2027.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jZQX9qdWxZ8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><strong></strong><br/></div>

<p>The kings of K-pop are truly back! BTS' comeback album 'Arirang' topped the Billboard 200, marking their seventh No. 1 on the major U.S. albums chart, the music publication reported.</p>

The kings of K-pop are truly back! BTS' comeback album 'Arirang' topped the Billboard 200, marking their seventh No. 1 on the major U.S. albums chart, the music publication reported.