"Kayla and Bethany are no strangers to deep dives, and in this episode they're sharing everything they've learned about "Arirang," the centuries-old folk song sometimes referred to as the collective memory of the Korean people. The song can be traced all the way back to the 1700s; though the legend of its origin is disputed, multiple versions of the song have been passed down across centuries. Today, there are over 3,600 known variations and counting."
"But the history of "Arirang" runs much deeper than that. The first recording of "Arirang" originated from a different group of seven Korean men - not singers, but bank robbers! And the recording didn't happen in Korea, but in Washington D.C. So how did a group of outlaws end up recording the unofficial Korean national anthem in the United States? And why did the U.S. Army's 7th Infantry Division adopt "Arirang" as its official march song decades later?"
Arirang is a centuries-old Korean folk song traceable to the 1700s with disputed origins and multiple regional versions. Over 3,600 variations of Arirang have been documented, making the melody a widespread cultural touchstone. The first known recording of Arirang was made in Washington D.C. by a group of seven Korean men identified as bank robbers rather than professional singers. The U.S. Army's 7th Infantry Division later adopted Arirang as its official march. BTS performed a version of Arirang in 2016 and added a new verse with original lyrics. BTS's new album is due March 20 and will be released in three versions, and the band is preparing for a tour with presale tickets already sold out.
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