After a very consistent, unstoppable and successful nine year run, things are changing for BTS. This week, the seven man boy band announced a hiatus. Several hours after the announcement hit the ‘Net, a statement was released, and it seems that "hiatus" may not be the best term for what is in store for the global superstars.
With talks of solo projects, time off and readjustment, BTS fans are trying to figure out what’s happening with the group. Let's unpack all of this right here.
On Tuesday, a day after the group's nine year anniversary of their career debut, BTS notified fans of a "hiatus" during their annual FESTA dinner celebration. Speaking in Korean, Suga began the conversation by revealing the group's new plans.
“We’re going into a hiatus now,” he said, “We have to talk about the direction we’re taking.”
The group leader, RM, added that he is unsure of the story they are trying to tell in their music now.
“We did "Dynamite," "Butter," "Permission to Dance," "Life Goes On," and I realised the group has definitely changed. We have to accept that we’ve changed." RM said. "For me, it was like the group BTS was within my grasp until ‘On’ and ‘Dynamite,’ but after ‘Butter’ and ‘Permission to Dance,’ I didn’t know what kind of group we were anymore."
The group's break comes after an intense, decade-long run as a major group. Aside from rediscovering their path, members can rest, and get acquainted with new goals.
During an interview for Weverse magazine, J-Hope opened up about how hard things have been for the band, especially around the time of their Grammys performance.
“It was a lot of pressure, psychologically speaking, as we were now at the Grammys and doing a performance similar to one we did shortly after we debuted," he said. "The other members were on the brink of mental exhaustion at that point, to be honest."
During the FESTA dinner, the members tearfully discussed their upcoming break, with RM even adding that this will be the last time for a while that the group will gather like this in front of cameras. But, both the BTS boys and HYBE, their company, reassured fans that this time off does not signal a break up for the band. Rather, it will be a time for the members to focus on their solo careers and rediscover the message they want to convey to their fans.
“I think we should spend some time apart to learn how to be one again,” J-Hope said, “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.”
Jimin also elaborated, “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 [as].”
“We’re each going to take some time to have fun and experience lots of things. We promise we will return someday even more mature than we are now,” Jungkook promised.
After news of the break went live, fans online were saddened. Though solo albums are on the way and the group reassured fans that they were not breaking up, the confusion of losing BTS as a unit was hard to digest. The word "hiatus" was translated through what Suga was saying in Korean and it was that word that was particularly hard for fans to swallow (I don't blame them, I still get shudders thinking of One Direction's "hiatus"). However, later, HYBE gave a statement via The Associated Press reassuring fans that BTS will still be around.
“BTS are not taking a hiatus," they said, "Members will be focusing more on solo projects at this time."
During their FESTA dinner group members spoke about their solo journeys, detailing that J-Hope is set to start the solo rollouts for the members. This is in reference to his upcoming, historic headlining set at Lollapalooza and as announced by the company the 28-year-old star will mark “the beginning with his upcoming solo album."
With all of that in mind, it's good to know the band will not be breaking up and the members will be taking a well deserved break. But also, this way, we may now start getting seven times the regular content. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a great win to me.
Watch the members discuss their break, upcoming solo careers and reflect on the past 9 years below.
