*K-Pop stars BTS are facing backlash following the release of an animated teaser for their new album “Arirang,” with viewers criticizing how the video portrays Howard University, a historically Black institution.
The teaser draws on a significant historical connection. In 1896, seven Korean students at Howard University became the first to record Korean voices and music in the United States. Anthropologist Alice Fletcher documented traditional songs, including “Arirang,” at her Southeast Washington D.C. home, per WJLA. The video presents a modern reimagining rooted in the cultural weight of those early recordings.
The animation shows BTS performing on Howard’s campus, with the Founders’ Library looming in the background The imagery links the group’s fifth studio album to that recording session and its place in both Korean and American cultural history.
From The Yard to the world stage ??
Long before global fandoms and viral choreography, Howard University was already shaping cultural exchange. In 1896, Korean students brought the sounds of “Arirang” to campus… a moment that would echo across history.
Today, that same… pic.twitter.com/EpezL4rxOD
— Howard University (@HowardU) March 20, 2026
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Online backlash has been strong. Commenters took issue with crowd scenes showing few Black students on a historically Black campus, arguing that the visuals ignore the very community the university was created to serve.
BigHit Music described the video as a way to introduce global audiences to the song’s cultural and emotional significance. “We wanted to share the story behind ‘Arirang’ with listeners who may not be familiar with it,” the agency said, The Korea Times reported.
In an X post, Howard university wrote: “Long before global fandoms and viral choreography, Howard University was already shaping cultural exchange. In 1896, Korean students brought the sounds of “Arirang” to campus… a moment that would echo across history. Today, that same spirit shows up in K-Pop’s global rise, where Black music, style, and performance continue to influence the sound and movement of a worldwide phenomenon. This is more than a moment… it’s a reminder that culture travels, connects, and evolves. And at Howard, it always has.”
The post linked to the full story on The Dig.
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