Massively successful Korean Pop boy band, BTS has announced they are embarking on a temporary hiatus to pursue solo careers.
The 7-man boy band announced the sad development during their annual FESTA dinner which celebrates the band’s nine years together, promising to ‘return someday.’
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While speaking about splitting and taking time off to pursue their solo careers, several of the members broke down in tears.
The members are Jungkook, 24; Jin, 29; RM, 27; V, 26; Suga, 29; J-Hope, 28; and Jimin, 26.
One of the members, RM at the event expressed;
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.
On his part, Jimin stated;
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. I think now we’re starting to think about what kind of artists we each want to be remembered by our fans.
He stressed;
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.
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Another member of the boy band, V insisted this is not a split adding that they will get back together ‘later when we gather again as a group that synergy will be like no other.’
Then, J-Hope said;
I think we should spend some time apart to learn how to be one again. I hope you don’t see this as a negative thing, and see it as a healthy plan. I think BTS will become stronger that way.
Before this announced disbandment, individual members already had engaged in other activities outside the group: Jung Kook released a solo single Sunday, called My You and J-Hope has been announced as a headliner of Chicago’s Lollapalooza festival in July.
It is their first extended break in their nine-year career.
BTS is a South Korean boy band that was formed in 2010 and debuted in 2013. They are also known as the Bangtan Boys.
This is not the first time they have taken a break. In December 2021, they said they needed some down time to recharge. And they also took a mini break in 2019.
The latest development comes 5 days (last week Friday) after the group released its latest album Proof, a compilation pairing some of their biggest hits with rarities and unreleased songs.
Accompany the new hits package was a video for the newly released single Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment), which features the members in a serene desert setting.
The announcement will come as a rude shock and sad news to millions of fans in South Korean and around the world.
