The supposed happy celebration of the K-POP boy band BTS’ 9th anniversary shocked the ARMYs with the announcement that the band will go on a hiatus for the time being and admitted “losing directions.”
During the “Festa Dinner with BTS” on Tuesday, BTS’ group leader RM revealed that “the group has definitely changed” after the COVID-19 pandemic, where they were able to produce their No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits “Dynamite,” “Butter,” “Permission to Dance” and “Life Goes On.”
“We have to accept that we’ve changed,”
RM
“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.” He expressed that the story and message he wants to spread is essential whenever he writes lyrics and songs, “but it was like that was gone now. I don’t know what kind of story I should tell now.”
“For me, it was a big deal that I didn’t know what we’re going to do as a group from now on. I don’t know what kind of direction our group has to take.”
RM
“Right now, we’ve lost our direction, and I just want to take some time to think and then return, but that just feels rude to our fans,” he added.
RM also mentioned that he always thought of BTS as different from other groups, but that the “problem” with K-Pop and the idol system is that “they don’t give you time to mature. You have to keep producing music and keep doing something.” He described getting up in the morning, having his makeup done, and feeling like he doesn’t have any time for growth.
“So I need to think and have some alone time, and then those thoughts can mature into something uniquely mine… I can’t physically mature anymore.”
RM
The supergroup leader added that he feels like he should be contributing something more to the world now, but he does not know what that is, so he needs some time to think and figure out who he is and what he wants BTS to be.
RM promised he would still look forward to dancing and rehearsing with the rest of BTS, so they can perform excellently once they reunite.
“But right now, we’ve lost our direction, and I just want to take some time to think,” he said.
Jimin asserted that they are thinking about their fans and want to be the kind of artists remembered by their ARMYs.
“I think now we’re starting to think about what kind of artists we each want to be remembered 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.”
JIMIN
Suga also confessed that writing lyrics for the BTS has already become “one of the hardest things” to do.
“We need something to say … you can’t force it. I have to talk about something I really feel, but right now I’m just squeezing it out because we have to satisfy people’s wants and the listeners … it’s so painful.”
SUGA
J-Hope affirmed to fans that this does not end the group, even though he also revealed that he has already begun work on his solo material.
“I think that change is what we need right now; It’s important for BTS to start our second chapter.”
J Hope
The spokesperson for the group clarified BTS’ description of the break-in in a statement to Billboard: “To be clear, they are not on hiatus, but will take time to explore some solo projects at this time and remain active in various formats.”