▲ K-pop boy group BTS is seen in this photo provided by BigHit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

BTS-Billboard triumph

BTS says Billboard No. 1 'great honor,' hopes music offered 'courage and comfort'

SEOUL, March 31 (Yonhap) -- K-pop supergroup BTS said Tuesday it was deeply honored to top the U.S. Billboard charts with its new album, "Arirang," adding it hoped the album and its lead track, "Swim," provided listeners around the world with "courage and comfort."

Billboard said in a preview of this week's Hot 100 main singles chart that "Swim" became the band's seventh No. 1 song on the chart, following the album's debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The dual triumph marks BTS' first simultaneous No. 1s on both charts in six years since "Be" in 2020.

In a statement released through its agency, BigHit Music, the septet said the success of its fifth studio album, unveiled after a hiatus of three years and nine months, was "a great honor" that it owed to its fans.

"We deeply thank ARMY, who have always shown us unwavering love and support, as well as everyone who listened to our music and shared their hearts with us," the group said, referring to the name of its global fandom.

The group added it had worked hard to capture "universal emotions" that many could relate to while preparing the new album.

Describing "Swim" as "a song that encourages perseverance through difficulty," it said it hoped the track "offered a bit of courage and comfort beyond borders" to its listeners.

"Thank you for the constant faith and support, and we will continue to make music with sincerity," the group said.

BTS released "Arirang" earlier this month, marking its first group project since 2022, when its members began fulfilling mandatory military service in South Korea.

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