The National Museum of Korea (Director Yoo Hong-jun) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 20th that the sound and patterns of National Treasure "Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok" (Emille Bell) have been incorporated into BTS's fifth studio album "ARIRANG" and related collaboration merchandise.
This collaboration follows a memorandum of understanding signed in October last year among the National Museum of Korea, the National Museum of Korea Cultural Foundation, and HYBE to promote Korean cultural heritage and K-culture. Under the agreement, the parties plan to interpret and expand the historical value and appeal of Korean cultural heritage through contemporary approaches, strengthening their role as a new cultural platform where tradition meets modernity and museums connect with popular culture.
"Following the MOU signing and at HYBE's request, we provided high-quality bell sound recordings of the Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok, which are publicly available under the Korea Open Government License. This audio was actually used in 'No.29,' a track on BTS's new album," the National Museum of Korea explained.
The Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok is Korea's representative Buddhist bell, cast in 771 during the Unified Silla period. Standing 3.6 meters tall and weighing 18.9 tons, it has been widely cherished for its beautiful form and majestic, solemn sound. The bell's distinctive acoustic phenomenon known as "beating"—a characteristic of its mystical tone—can now be experienced in a new way through BTS's music via this collaboration.
The Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok is currently displayed in the outdoor exhibition area of the Gyeongju National Museum. Visitors can directly experience the bell's sound and vibrations at "Space_Between," a sensory exhibition room on the third floor of the National Museum of Korea, and can also hear the original sound at the digital theater in the Gyeongju National Museum.
The National Museum of Korea Cultural Foundation and HYBE developed graphics featuring the donor figure on the Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok and the surrounding cloud patterns. These designs appear in "BTS*MU:DS 2026" (2026 BTS X MU:DS Collaboration Merch), a five-item collection including a shoulder bag, card holder, hair clip, hairpin, and layered skirt.
