Following last month's announcement of their comeback album *Arirang*, BTS has topped a fan poll with 77.2% of votes as the most anticipated March act. Preorders hit 4.06 million in a week, with first-week sales projected at 4-5 million. The March 21 Gwanghwamun Square concert streams live on Netflix.
A poll by Kiwing from February 23 to March 8 crowned BTS the top anticipated artist for March, signaling massive hype for their fifth full-length Arirang, set for March 20—the group's first since completing military service.
Preorders reached 4.06 million within a week, outpacing prior records amid a slumping physical sales market (86.4 million units last year vs. 115.8 million in 2023, per Circle Chart). Hanteo Global CEO Kwak Young-ho told Korea JoongAng Daily: "I believe the [first-week sales] figure will likely surpass 4 million, and possibly reach 5 million... reaching 4 to 5 million is certainly within range."
BTS's return bolsters expectations for K-pop's rebound, with analyst Kim Jin-woo projecting 100 million domestic units this year as Blackpink also returns. Album exports hit $301.7 million last year (Korea Customs Service). The March 21 comeback at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square—previously announced for Netflix livestream—caps a three-year hiatus during which Seventeen's Seventeenth Heaven (2023) set a 5.09 million first-week benchmark.