BTS announce hiatus to pursue solo projects

The South Korean boy band say they will return as a ‘stronger group’

BTS fans look away now. The wildly popular Grammy winning group have announced they will be taking a break to focus on their solo careers.

The news was announced during their annual live streamed dinner, a celebration of their anniversary, on Tuesday night (June 14th). “We’re going into a hiatus now,” said Suga about 20 minutes into the clip, which was posted on the group’s official YouTube channel.

Band member Jimin said the group had been going through a “rough patch”. “We’re trying to find our identity and that’s an exhausting and long process,” he explained.

Continuing the conversation, RM said that while they had achieved great milestones as BTS, the individual members needed to grow and mature as individuals. “I always thought that BTS was different from other groups, but the problem with K-pop and the whole idol system is that they don’t give you time to mature. You have to keep producing music and keep doing something.” 

Other members agreed, adding that going on a break was a difficult decision.

“We can’t help but think of our fans no matter what, we want to be the kind of artists that are remembered by our fans,” Jimin stated. “I think that’s why we’re going through a rough patch right now, we’re trying to find our identity and that’s an exhausting and long process.”

V told fans that the group was not splitting for good, adding that they would get back together “later, when we gather again as a group, that synergy will be like no other”.

Despite the revelation, a representative denied that the group were going on a hiatus. “To be clear, they are not on hiatus but will take time to explore some solo projects at this time and remain active in various different formats,” said Hybe, the entertainment company that manages BTS. 

Writer
Chris Saunders
Banner Image Credit
Instagram / BTS