BTS’ ARIRANG comeback show at Gwanghwamun Square took place on March 21, 2026. Featuring a stunning blend of the BTS of yore and a new confident version post-military service and solo releases, ARMYs were impressed by all parts of the performance, including the gorgeous costumes. The designer spoke to WWD magazine about what the clothes mean and how the members’ input affected the details.
BTS’ Gwanghwamun Comeback Fits Drew From Korean History With Each Member Standing As A Character
Jay Songzio, the genius behind the onstage ensemble, curated a special collection for BTS’ comeback, ‘Lyrical Comeback.’ Per the themes of the album, he took inspiration from Korean history and tradition for the look. While the silhouette is reminiscent of Joseon-style armour, it was modernised to suit each member within the “ARIRANG story.”
Beginning the design about two months before the comeback concert, the Songzio label was given free rein with the design. HYBE apparently told him to create a “story that revolves around individual members,” with nary a reference in sight. Nonetheless, he created some preliminary sketches, and the final design required a lot of input from BTS and the company.
Songzio eventually chose to weave a story around the Korean feeling of ‘han’, which is “sorrow or longing.” It appears in the Korean word for their own language, traditional clothing, ancient style of housing, and more. It builds on Korea’s turbulent history, and Songzio wanted the K-pop juggernauts to appear as warriors leading the way through tumultuous times.
The leader RM, aka Kim Namjoon, was the hero in their story, because according to Jay Songzio, “charismatic presence as the leader.” With inborn elegance, Jin was “the artist”, while SUGA was “the architect” as the producer for many BTS bangers.
BTS’ dance leader J-Hope was “sorigun”(literally translating to sound man), a well-known folk song performer, while the lead dancer Jimin became “the poet”. For V, Songzio referred to him as “seonbi”, saying that his sharp features posited him as a nobleman or “gentleman in Korean history”.
Lastly, maknae Jungkook was “the vanguard” for his dynamic yet steadfast image over the years. In particular, Jungkook wanted the shirt he wore to be painted in a way that mimicked the rough and distressed texture of “Korean landscape painting.”
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Jay Songzio added that apart from the ‘My Time’ vocalist, the other members had many things to say, focussing on details of colours and accessories. The carefully curated outfits added a dimension of pure Korean emotion, elevating BTS’ ARIRANG performance even more.
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