BTS ARIRANG Album Review: Disappointing or Worth the Wait?

BTS is facing mixed reactions from fans after the release of their new album ARIRANG on March 20.

Fans voted in a poll to share their thoughts on the album, revealing a wide range of opinions. The results show ARIRANG is divisive, with some praising it and others criticizing it heavily.

At the bottom, 6% of voters said:

“I dislike ‘ARIRANG’ for technical reasons (production, mixing, vocal effects, etc).”

Another 6% chose:

“I have mixed feelings. I like some songs but dislike others.”

The mixed feelings option edged out the technical critique by 4 votes.

Next, 8% of fans expressed concerns about the lyrics, voting:

“I would like ‘ARIRANG’ better if it had more Korean lyrics and/or better English lyrics.”

Fifteen percent felt the album was underwhelming compared to BTS’s previous work, noting:

“‘ARIRANG’ is okay, but it’s underwhelming compared to BTS’s previous albums.”

Some fans compared the album to Dark & Wild, highlighting unmet expectations after the long wait.

On the critical side, 22% of voters said:

“‘ARIRANG’ wasn’t worth the wait. I don’t like it at all.”

Despite the criticism, the most popular response came from 34% of fans who declared:

“‘ARIRANG’ was worth the wait. I love everything about it!”

The poll results clearly show ARIRANG has sparked strong and varied reactions among BTS fans, from full support to sharp disappointment.