▲ People gather around the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok, widely known as the “Emille Bell," in this photo provided by the Gyeongju National Museum. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, March 20 (Yonhap) -- The track "No. 29" on BTS’ fifth studio album "Arirang" has drawn attention for its unusual credits — listing neither songwriter nor producer.

 

When the album’s track list was first unveiled, fans were left puzzled. The mystery was revealed Friday as the sound of the King Seongdeok Divine Bell, a representative Korean cultural heritage item known for its resonance dating back over a millennium.

 

 

▲ People gather around the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok, widely known as the “Emille Bell," in this photo provided by the Gyeongju National Museum. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

Why was the grand, solemn sound included in BTS’ new album?

 

According to the National Museum of Korea, discussions on incorporating the bell’s sound began in earnest after a memorandum of understanding was signed in October last year among the museum, the National Museum Cultural Foundation and HYBE. The agreement aimed to promote Korean cultural heritage and expand the reach of K-culture.

 

At the time, National Museum of Korea Director Yu Hong-jun guided HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk through various exhibition halls, including “Space Between,” a sensory exhibition area on the third floor of the permanent exhibition hall that presents the sound and resonance of traditional Korean bells in a unique way.

 

The space features a 4-meter-high LED screen that visually represents the bell’s “beating” phenomenon — a rhythmic fluctuation in sound intensity that creates a long, lingering resonance. Yu reportedly recommended that Bang listen to the bell, saying it was essential for anyone working in music.

 

Industry officials said Bang, who oversaw production of BTS’ new album, appeared to have drawn inspiration from the bell’s sound. Following the agreement, HYBE expressed interest in using the sound in the album, and the museum provided a high-quality audio recording.

 

The bell’s sound has been publicly available on the website of the Gyeongju National Museum since 2016. The 1-minute, 38-second recording can also be heard every 20 minutes at the outdoor bell pavilion of the museum.

 

The Gyeongju National Museum has recently introduced an immersive digital exhibition on the King Seongdeok Divine Bell at its Silla Arts Hall. In addition, HYBE and the National Museum Cultural Foundation have launched cultural merchandise featuring the bell’s engraved donor figures and surrounding cloud patterns.

 

A museum official said the collaboration will serve as a new cultural platform connecting tradition and modernity, as well as museums and popular culture, by reinterpreting and expanding the historical value and appeal of Korean cultural heritage in a contemporary way.

 

 

▲ K-pop lovers fill up Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul’s Jongno Ward on March 20

 

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]