BTS electrified music fans worldwide by unveiling, to great acclaim, the music video for “2.0,” a track on their fifth studio album “ARIRANG.” The video has drawn strong praise for delivering a cheerful twist amid a bold noir atmosphere that only BTS could pull off.
At midnight on the 2nd, BTS released the music video for “2.0” through HYBE LABELS’ official YouTube channel, revealing the song’s new visual. The video pays homage to Park Chan-wook’s acclaimed masterpiece “Oldboy.” As the old elevator doors open, the members appear in suits, radiating overwhelming charisma. In particular, when faced with harsh confrontations, they turned the tables by using inventive Korean props—such as a back scratcher, a Taegeuk fan, and a danso (a Korean bamboo flute)—showcasing their signature clever energy.
The most attention-grabbing sequence is an action scene shot in one take down a narrow hallway. It delivers a perfectly reimagined version of “the Jangdo-ri action scene,” a signature moment from “Oldboy.” Rhythmically striking lighting and the comedic performances of surrounding characters, paired with the members’ high-energy execution, come together to deliver an even more intense visual thrill.
Running throughout the music video is the central message “2.0 LOADING.” Inside a sealed elevator, the members’ dazzling transformation after the line “I’ve finally arrived” symbolizes where BTS is headed as they begin a brand-new chapter. The shift in the background—from shabby surroundings to a high-end penthouse—metaphorically captures their story of rising from the ground up to become global pop icons.
New song “2.0” stands out as a hip-hop trap track with a distinctive, playful bounce, reflecting BTS’s confidence built through countless changes and growth. The blunt lyric, “Yeah, it’s not that easy to pull off something like BTS,” struck a chord across the global fandom. Riding that momentum, “2.0” also debuted impressively on the U.S. Billboard main single chart “Hot 100” (dated April 4) at No. 50.
Regarding the project, BTS said, “It’s a video that shows an even more evolved performance, and the process of paying tribute to a masterpiece film was especially fascinating.” With a clear identity and another leap forward, BTS’ next path has generated anticipation from both the media and fans worldwide.
