Netizens did not hold back.
Koreaboo
21 minutes ago
BTS‘s final track in their new album, ARIRANG, “Into the Sun,” was never a fan favorite.
| BigHit Music
Since its release, the song has faced consistent criticism for its heavy autotune and overly processed sound — many felt it buried the members’ natural vocals under unnecessary layers of production. It even became the subject of ridicule on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, where fans scathingly mocked the production choice.
It’s Not Your Speakers — BTS’s “ARIRANG” Album Just Doesn’t Sound Right
Then came the group’s Tokyo Dome concert.
Jungkook during “Arirang” world tour | @blacknwhite_km/X (formerly known as Twitter)
Jungkook performed part of the controversial track completely live yesterday, and the reaction was immediate. Fans who had written the song off entirely found themselves hitting replay.
one thing about jungkook’s voice man…. pic.twitter.com/vFpuCOCEz4
— mon⁷ (@knjgIoss) April 18, 2026
The clip went viral not only among Japanese fans, but even those in Korea and beyond.
— 순둥이~ (@mnisjk) April 18, 2026
Even Tony Award-winning musical actress Lea Salonga heard the performance and reportedly loved it — high praise from someone with that kind of ear.
When a world-class vocalist like Lea Salonga—a Tony Award winner, vocal powerhouse, and one of the Philippines’ most respected music icons—recognizes vocal excellence, it means something.
Her praise for Jungkook’s live vocals only proves what fans and even non-fans already know:… pic.twitter.com/FJUcnRpq6m
— JUNGKOOK’S WORLD (@JeonKayz) April 19, 2026
The live stage has essentially reignited the debate around the studio version, and Korean netizens aren’t holding back.
| TheQoo
- “I hadn’t listened to this song again after hearing the studio version, but after hearing Jungkook sing it, I can’t stop listening. It’s so good, it’s melting my ears”
- “Oh wow, the studio version feels kind of mechanical and artificial, but the live version is so much better.”
- “Why did they make the studio version sound so muffled? The live version is 100 times better.”
- “I really can’t stand the auto-tune in the studio version. The live version is the best.”
- “Oh wow, this is truly so good.”
BTS