BTS, who enlisted in the military sequentially, will all return to civilian status by next month. With the recent slowdown in K-pop’s growth, attention is turning to when the full group will make their comeback, which could revitalize the market.
BTS began their military service in December 2022, starting with the eldest member Jin, and currently, two out of the seven members have completed their duties. Next month, the remaining five—RM and V (June 10), Jungkook and Jimin (June 11), and Suga (June 21)—will be discharged or released from reserve duty in order.
During their hiatus, the members stayed connected with ARMY (BTS’s fandom) through pre-prepared solo albums and other activities. Notably, Jimin’s ‘Like Crazy’ spent a record 33 weeks on Billboard’s ‘Hot 100’, the longest-charting song by a K-pop soloist.
Jin, who was discharged in June last year, has been active in various fields, appearing in Netflix’s variety show ‘Kian’s Bizarre B&B’ and releasing his second mini-album ‘Echo’. J-Hope, discharged in October, is currently on his ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ world tour and became the second K-pop male soloist after Psy to grace the cover of ‘Billboard’ magazine.
BTS entered their military hiatus after their ‘Proof’ activities in June 2022. Even during their break, industry insiders note that no “big player” comparable to BTS has emerged. Their comeback is expected to breathe new life into the K-pop market, which has recently seen a decline in momentum.
However, it may take some time for BTS to return with a polished album. Considering Jin’s solo fan concerts across nine cities worldwide, starting next month and running through August, a full-group comeback is likely to happen by the end of the year at the earliest.
Earlier, Lee Jae-sang HYBE CEO stated at the annual shareholders’ meeting in March, “After completing their military service, BTS members will need time to prepare and work on their activities.” He added, “The company is also discussing with top-tier producers, but the artists’ deliberation and preparation are essential.”
Even before an official comeback, the members may reunite publicly. They have consistently expressed their eagerness to return. Jungkook recently wrote on the fan platform Weverse on the 15th, “Take care of your health, and let’s meet soon.” Last month, Jimin shared, “What kind of album will we start our story with next? What journey will my 30s bring? I want to stay healthy and perform for a long time.”
