Lili Reinhart appears alongside BTS in the music video for “Swim,” the lead single from the K-pop group’s fifth studio album, Arirang. This synth-driven track offers a mellow vibe compared to the rest of the album.
Video Plot and Production
The video opens with Reinhart gazing at a ship in a museum as wave sounds introduce the song. It shifts to the actual ship, crewed by BTS members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook in sailor-inspired outfits.
The ship symbolizes healing and personal growth. Reinhart’s character awakens aboard, facing doubt and anguish. The seven members provide quiet support, helping her reflect and regain strength to advance.
Filmed in Lisbon on a real ship with custom studio sets for a cinematic feel, the video was directed by Tanu Muino, who also helmed Jungkook’s solo “Standing Next to You.”
Song Themes and BTS Statement
“Swim” emphasizes pushing forward through life’s challenges. A release describes it as centering on the resolve to swim onward amid tides, embracing one’s pace as a celebration of life.
BTS shared: “[It’s] a song that mirrors life itself. [We] hope it resonates with many people as they move through each day, taking each moment as it comes, splashing along and continuing to swim forward. The more you listen, the warmer it feels, so [we] hope it becomes a source of strength as people go through their lives. Also, just like the folk song ‘Arirang,’ which has been passed from mouth to mouth and stayed with people through generations, [we] hope ‘Swim’ will remain close to people’s hearts for a long time to come.”
The track builds on BTS’s life-perspective themes seen in “Life Goes On” and “Permission to Dance.”
Reinhart’s Reaction and Album Context
Fans speculated about Reinhart’s involvement, and she confirmed it via social media, joining a TikTok trend: “Will you guys watch my friends for a second?”—revealing BTS as her “friends.”
Arirang marks BTS’s first full seven-member release after completing mandatory military service.
Upcoming Netflix Projects and World Tour
BTS launches this era with Netflix specials. BTS The Comeback Live | Arirang streams live on March 21 from Seoul’s Gwanghwamun, overlooking Gyeongbokgung Palace—the group’s first global album performance.
One week later, on March 27, BTS: The Return premieres, an intimate documentary on the album’s creation.
The group also announces a massive 2026-2027 world tour across Asia, North America, Europe, Latin America, and Australia—its most expansive yet with 82 stops. It begins with three nights in Goyang, South Korea, followed by two in Tokyo, then Tampa, U.S., and more global dates.
