BTS

BTS Announces Hiatus to Focus on Solo Careers

While the K-pop stars didn't note how long the hiatus will last, they expressed their desire to explore solo projects

BTS performs "Butter" at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, April 3, 2022, in Las Vegas.
AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

This news isn't going down smooth like butter.

BTS's band members -- who include RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook -- announced they are taking a hiatus in a video posted to social media on June 14.

"We're each going to take some time to have fun and experience lots of things," Jungkook said. "We promise we will return someday, even more mature than we are now."

While the K-pop stars didn't note how long the hiatus will last, they expressed their desire to explore solo projects. "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," RM said per NME's translation. "You have to keep producing music and keep doing something."

Still, the decision wasn't an easy one. "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," Jimin added. "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."

Your Guide to K-Pop From BTS and Beyond

BTS started forming in 2010 after Big Hit Entertainment founder Bang Si-hyuk recruited RM followed by Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook, with the band officially debuting in 2013. Since then, the artists have gone on to experience dynamite success, including two Grammy nominations, six no. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and an army of fans.

And no matter what the future holds for the musicians, they'll always have the love of their supporters.

"I don't think I've ever really thought of being not a part of this group," Jimin told Rolling Stone last year. "I can't imagine what I would do on my own. I would like to think that at the end, when I'm too old to dance, I would just like to sit onstage with the other members and sing and engage with the fans. I think that would be great, too. So I'd like to keep this going as long as I possibly can."

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