South Korean boy band BTS has released the music video for “Merry Go Round”, giving fans a visual interpretation of the melancholic track from their fifth studio album ‘ARIRANG’. 

The music video arrived on YouTube on Friday, September 25, following an exclusive premiere on Spotify in June. The song, which was released in March as part of ‘ARIRANG’, explores the emotional exhaustion of living through repetitive cycles and the pressures that come with responsibility.

BTS members navigate a life stuck in a loop

Shot entirely in black and white, the “Merry Go Round” video follows Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook as they move through what initially appears to be an otherworldly setting.

The seven members are shown aboard a spacecraft, each seemingly carrying the fatigue of a life caught in repetition. The song reflects that feeling through lyrics about being trapped in an endless cycle and struggling with the weight of everyday responsibilities.

The video gradually expands its perspective, revealing a carousel positioned at the base of the spacecraft towards the end, adding another layer to the song’s theme of repetition.

‘Merry Go Round’ features on BTS’ ARIRANG

“Merry Go Round” is part of ‘ARIRANG’, which was released on March 20. The album marked BTS’ first studio album since ‘BE’ in 2020 and their first album following the completion of the members’ mandatory military service in South Korea.

The track was produced by Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, Sam Homaee and Sarah Aarons. ‘ARIRANG’ also includes the singles “Swim”, “Hooligan” and “Normal”.

BTS debuted in 2013 and consists of Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook.

BTS’ ‘ARIRANG’ world tour posts strong numbers

The “Merry Go Round” release comes as BTS continues its ‘ARIRANG’ world tour, which began in April.

The group recently completed the North American leg of the tour, performing 31 shows across 12 cities. According to figures cited by Korea.net from BigHit Music, the shows attracted approximately 1.92 million attendees, with every concert selling out.

The group’s four concerts in Los Angeles alone drew around 282,000 people.

BTS also topped cumulative tour ticket sales for the third quarter, based on figures released on September 23. The reporting period covered November 13, 2025, through August 12, 2026.

During that period, the ‘ARIRANG’ world tour generated approximately $465.8 million in revenue, placing BTS at the top of the cumulative tour ticket-sales rankings.