In a livestream this past weekend, BTS member RM confirmed that the band is still very much alive, though temporarily disbanded.
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As the BTS ARMY will know, the K-pop group has been on hiatus since October 2022 in order for each member to prepare for South Korea's mandatory military service requirement. As required by law, all able-bodied male South Korean citizens must serve in the military for 18-21 months by the age of 28. While some members were granted postponements, there is no exemption from the law overall- thus, the group has been disbanded.
Those that aren’t yet enlisted have been releasing songs as solo artists, which RM said was more akin to a “vacation” from the boy group than a genuine change in career. In a Weverse livestream this past Saturday, RM responded to chats and reaffirmed hopes for a reunion.“Even though we’re doing our solo activities on our own,” he told fans, “what I’m thinking these days when I’m doing my solo projects is… this is just like a vacation, to get back to where I was, which was BTS and ARMY. All the solo [work] is just a journey. But it is a very important journey for Chapter 2. But it’s a journey to get back home safe.”
Speaking in both Korean and English throughout the livestream, RM also read a written statement out loud saying that the band allowed members to “flourish into the warmth of spring.” “I hope our songs and solo projects could be another reminder to you guys of how important ARMY was, has been and will be in our lives at the same time,” RM read. “I hope that it is a reminder that spring will come again. Please continue to keep BTS alive in your hearts, in this moment and perhaps throughout your entire life.”
He also gave a year estimate on when BTS’ hiatus would end, and said that once reunited, they plan to remain a group. “Eventually, when we get back and reunite together in 2025… [we will] be back for sure. We’ll be joining together again. And that will be in 2025,” he told the livestream, which responded with a flurry of chats and excitement.
Three out of seven of the members are currently in the process of enlistment or active members of the South Korean military. The eldest members Jin and J-hope are both enlisted as active-duty soldiers, while rapper Suga officially started his military enlistment process just last week. Regardless, all seven have a list of solo works to keep fans at bay during the hiatus, which is now confirmed to end in two years.
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