BTS global superstars said they are taking the time to focus on solo projects, but the company behind the innovative K-pop group said they are not pausing.
The group of seven successful members like Butter and Dynamite talked about their future in a video released Wednesday morning celebrating the new anniversary of their debut. Last week they just released a three-disc anthology album, Proof.
Some BTS members seemed to be crying in the video. Credit: YouTube
Suga, a member of the band, asked the group if they should talk about why they were on a break while sitting down for a group dinner. They talked about having to deal with COVID-19 by interrupting their tour plans and music releases, as well as what everyone thought about their individual artistic goals.
The group spoke in Korean and the word “hiatus” was used in the English subtitles included in the video.
But a statement from Hybe, South Korea’s entertainment company behind BTS, said they would continue to work on projects as a group as well as individually. “BTS is not taking a break. Members will focus more on solo projects right now,” the statement said.
No details on future BTS collaborations or solo projects were announced on Wednesday. BTS has a global fan base that follows the group and members online and in recent years the profile of the group has increased overseas. The group recently addressed the UN General Assembly and went to the White House to discuss with President Joe Biden ways to curb violence against Asian Americans.
BTS reaches its 64th annual Grammy Awards on April 3, 2022 in Las Vegas. Credit: AP
The band members, J-Hope, RM, Suga, Jungkook, V, Jin and Jimin, talked about the struggle to develop as individual artists within the K-pop genre.
“The problem with K-pop and the whole idol system is that they don’t give you time to mature,” RM said. Some of the members of the group seemed to cry during the conversation.