BTS released their fifth full-length album, ARIRANG, on March 20, 2026, and the comeback drew attention for things besides the music. During a live broadcast with all seven members, fans (also known as ARMY) noticed that Jin was not listed in the album’s creative credits. That detail led to strong reactions from them, especially after the members openly explained what happened. First, RM shared that each member brought a different tone to the album and added that Jin likely would have been more involved if his tour had ended earlier. V also explained that there had been time to work together, but Jin was still busy and not in the best condition to work on the project.
“Jin actually wanted to participate too, if only the tour had ended a little sooner,” RM said.
“We had time to work together, but Jin wasn’t feeling well because he was still on tour,” V explained to the fans.
The members of BTS made it clear that Jin’s absence was not caused by a personal issue inside the group. Instead, while the band members were participating in a songwriting camp in the United States, Jin was still managing solo promotions after his military discharge and continuing his tour schedule. By the time the “Super Tuna” singer was able to join the project, much of the album had already been completed. However, Jimin still pointed out that Jin significantly helped the team, saying:
“Thanks to him keeping the team together, we were able to release the album.”
Fans became even more emotional after cameras captured Jin’s expression changing during the live broadcast, with Jungkook patting his shoulder in a friendly way. That moment led many ARMYs to question whether the group’s schedule had been handled correctly. Even so, BTS has already moved forward with promotions for ARIRANG. Initially, the group held a live event at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21, 2026, and is now set to make an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on March 25, 2026, and March 26, 2026. A Netflix documentary titled BTS: The Return will premiere on the platform on March 27, giving fans an exclusive peak into the creative process for ARIRANG.
