BTS began revealing their comeback plans shortly after completing their military service, followed by an early announcement of their return date and album title in a letter sent to fans who hold Gold Membership on the Weverse platform late last year. They continued to overwhelm ARMY with live events such as a visual installation at Gwanghwamun Square and the message “We Are Back” illuminated in purple lights on the Empire State Building, as well as the Valentine’s event “What’s Your Love Song?” held simultaneously in major cities such as Seoul, London, New York City, and Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, only two weeks remain until the release of BTS’s fifth studio album titled ARIRANG on March 20, along with their one-hour comeback show at Gwanghwamun. As a result, management company HYBE and streaming platform Netflix are going all out with promotional activities during these days. On the 4th, they unveiled a one-song tracklist featuring the title track Swim, which carries a message about the determination to move forward despite the waves of life.

Before fans could even recover from the excitement surrounding the tracklist — widely expected to be “heading for the Grammys” — Netflix released a teaser video and poster on the 5th announcing the group’s grand comeback. Powerful scenes show all seven members appearing before the radiant backdrop of Gyeongbokgung Palace at the intersection of day and night. Past and present images are interwoven with captions such as "THE WORLD'S BIGGEST BAND IS BACK" and "WITNESS THE HOMECOMING", giving viewers goosebumps.

Fans have been reacting enthusiastically: “The kings have finally returned,” “Literally the first group in history to come back together as a full group after hiatus. LEGENDS,” “BTS and ARMY are going to have the biggest party in town,” and “My heart is already racing just from watching the trailer.”

However, the center of ARMY’s attention does not stop there, especially focusing on the voice-over lines from leader RM. He begins by stating, "We promised our fans that we'd be back" which instantly triggered a powerful emotional response. This is because fans still vividly remember the moment four years ago, in 2022’s The Real BTS Dinner Party, when the leader could not hold back his tears while discussing BTS’s plans for the next three years — focusing on individual activities due to certain unavoidable reasons, while reαѕѕuring fans: “What I meant to say is, please wait for us. That's all I ask.”

And indeed, he did not deceive fans or say it lightly. Four years later, he leads BTS back and declares: “Seven together, we can do anything. Keep swimming.”

Notably, BTS’s leader is also the main lyricist behind the title track of the ARIRANG album, Swim, whose message revolves around the determination to keep moving forward despite the fierce waves of life. According to Forbes, the depth of his lyrics brings authenticity to this message of perseverance — a theme that resonates strongly with BTS’s own journey of separation and reunion. At this point, the words RM has spoken in both the past and the present resonate even more deeply in the hearts of fans.

ARMYs can’t help but release the emotions they have held back for so long:

- I don't even know I made it through these 3 years but now I can proudly say I stayed and WE ARE SO F*CKING BACK!!

- Yes JOONIE we waited for you. We waited , We survived. This made me cry y'all

- Namjoon really loves ARMY the most. Welcome back our kings

- As if I'll survive without them.. H*ck no namjoons I ain't leaving y'all so soon

- Thank you for keeping your promise. We ARMYs kept our promise too

- What is better than saying I love you. The man whose promise I trust the most in the world

- And indeed they came back. They came back stronger. In the nnnth time, BTS is a living proof that not all men lie

- Thank you Namjoon and BTS for keeping your promise. We're so back

- Can't hold my tears anymore, thank you BTS you are always being waited

- It felt like forever away but we're here already on the other side

- "All men do is lie": that doesn’t apply to KIM NAMJOON — my man, my leader, my everything