bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

quizIds

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

paywallTypes

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Tamar Herman

BTS will be taking a break.
The South Korean superstar group announced shortly after their ninth anniversary that they would be going on hiatus for a temporary break as a band in order for members to focus on their solo careers.
Sharing the news in a live-stream video on Tuesday – the day after the band’s anniversary on Monday – the septet’s members shared the news directly with their fans.
“We’re going into a hiatus now,” Suga announced. The group did not say when they aimed to reunite.


He later reiterated the sentiment that they are not breaking up. “It’s not that we’re disbanding, we’re just living apart for a while.”
“I think BTS could become a stronger group that way,” J-Hope added.
However, shortly after the news broke, a representative of Hybe, the South Korean company that manages the band, reportedly issued a statement saying otherwise.
“BTS are not taking a hiatus. Members will be focusing more on solo projects at this time,” the statement said.
Will BTS be first K-pop stars to bypass South Korea’s military service?
In the original video, Suga’s answer was subtitled in English, with the original more directly referring to the group being on an “off” period.
The Post has reached out to Hybe to clarify.
The announcement came in a special video for their 2022 Festa, the name for BTS’s annual anniversary celebration period, which is usually accompanied by numerous events and releases.
The hour-long clip, dubbed the “real BTS dinner party”, featured the seven drinking and eating while sharing their thoughts about where the group is at, and why they feel it is necessary to take some time off to work on individual efforts.


The members also offered insights into their struggles with creating music over the past few years, saying that this period of focusing on solo projects would help them grow as individuals and regroup refreshed – to become an even greater BTS.
RM said that, following the releases of On and Dynamite in 2020, he had felt like BTS’s direction was less clear after the Covid-19 pandemic set in and disrupted their plans.
“I realised the group has definitely changed,” he reflected. “We have to accept that we’ve changed. For me, it was like the group BTS was within my grasp until On and Dynamite, but after [2021’s] Butter and Permission to Dance I didn’t know what kind of team we were any more.”
He also added he was unclear what sort of messaging and story he wanted to tell with their music any more, and he hoped this time would allow for that.
“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 … there’s no time left for growth.”
Suga also said that he’s unsure what to say when writing lyrics nowadays.


Along with spending time off to refresh, during this hiatus the members anticipate pursuing their own paths, with several solo albums planned.
In the past, the members only ever individually released mixtapes rather than formal albums, which have limited their releases and promotions.
“We can’t help but think of our fans no matter what,” said Jimin. “What kind of artists we want to be remembered [as] by our fans. I think now, finally, we’ve come to think about what kind of artist we each want to be remembered as by our fans. 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. Our fans know us and we know us. We have so many things we want to tell them but we can’t be honest all the time.
“We want to be comfortable with them but it’s so hard, and that’s worn us out. We’re trying to slowly figure things out now.”
BTS meet Biden at White House, discuss anti-Asian hate crimes
BTS also shared that the members will no longer all live together as their joint apartment’s contract is up.
The announcement came days after BTS released their first anthology album, Proof, which is said to reflect on the band’s past, present and future, and open a new chapter of the band’s career.
The single, Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment), promises that the group’s best moment has yet to come, fitting with BTS’s promise to return as a united team.


J-Hope is expected to be the first to release an album. He released his mixtape Hope World in 2018.
“The important thing is that I’m just the start, everyone’s working on their own music,” he said.
BTS’s members also said that they’d like to come together on occasion even if formally on a temporary break, such as to film their variety series BTS Run or perform from time to time.
In response to the news, fans shared messages of love and thanks, with phrases like “ARMY FOREVER” and “THANK YOU BTS” trending on Twitter. Army is the collective name for BTS’s fandom.
K-pop fans overcome Covid fears and precautions to see their idols live
A day before the announcement, BTS celebrated their anniversary with a special performance of songs from “Proof”, including Yet to Come. Anderson .Paak, best known as of late as one half of Silk Sonic along with Bruno Mars, featured as a guest.
Along with all the other news and new activities, Jungkook also released a solo song, My You, dedicated to fans.
The break comes ahead of the deadline for the oldest member of BTS, Jin, to enlist in South Korea’s military by the age of 30 to perform the national service that is compulsory for all males unless granted an exemption.
Because of the immense impact of BTS, the country’s politicians and military leaders have debated whether or not members warrant an exemption, such as top-tier athletes receive, but to date no announcement of any waiver has been made.


Japanese woman investigated for kissing BTS’ Jin without consent at Seoul event

K-pop stars BTS’ flight details allegedly sold by Hong Kong airline worker

What has Oli London been up to? The controversial Brit had multiple surgeries to look like BTS’ Jimin and declared himself transracial, transgender and bisexual – but now rails against ‘woke’ ideology

BTS, Blackpink, Stray Kids, Seventeen, New Jeans … K-pop keeps making headlines all over the world and the artists become household names

BTS announce temporary break, with plans for solo releases before reuniting as group – though label denies it’s a ‘hiatus’

(L-R) V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin, and J-Hope of BTS are seen at the 2021 American Music Awards in LA. File photo: Getty Images North America via AFP

K-pop supergroup BTS meet Joe Biden at White House, discuss anti-Asian hate crimes

Members of the K-pop supergroup BTS at the White House in Washington on  Tuesday. Photo: AP 

Hundreds of fans of K-pop sensation BTS gather outside the White House in Washington. Photo: EPA-EFE

South Korean minister weighs in on BTS military service amid ‘rich-poor’ debate

BTS on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ on November 15, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: GC Images 

BTS performs at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in Las Vegas in April. Photo: AP

BTS perform during the 64th Annual Grammy Awards show in Las Vegas in April. Photo: Reuters

BTS pose on the red carpet as they attend the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada in April. Photo: Reuters

BTS perform onstage during the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in April. Photo: AFP

BTS launch Proof, a triple album of new and old songs, with promise that the best is ‘Yet to Come’

A new photo of BTS released to coincide with the issuing of their three-disc album “Proof”. It could be the last from them for a while. Photo: Hybe

BTS are about to celebrate their ninth anniversary, and are waiting to learn whether they will have to perform service in the South Korean armed forces or be granted deferrals. Photo: Hybe

Lifestyle

K-drama

Bands

 Artists & celebrities

News

Asia

East Asia

K-Pop

Artists & celebrities


Member RM says the band is ‘exhausted’ and the K-pop idol system doesn’t give singers ‘time to mature’
But management company Hybe later denied that the band was going on a hiatus, although it admitted they would focus on solo projects for a time



Member RM says the band is ‘exhausted’ and the K-pop idol system doesn’t give singers ‘time to mature’.


Fame and celebrity

Music

South Korean celebrities

BTS announce temporary break, with plans for solo releases before reuniting as group – though label denies it’s a ‘hiatus’

Member RM says the band is ‘exhausted’ and the K-pop idol system doesn’t give singers ‘time to mature’ But management company Hybe later denied that the band was going on a hiatus, although it admitted they would focus on solo projects for a time

Member RM says the band is ‘exhausted’ and the K-pop idol system doesn’t give singers ‘time to mature’

But management company Hybe later denied that the band was going on a hiatus, although it admitted they would focus on solo projects for a time