BTS THE EXHAUSTED SOUTH KOREAN K-POP BOYSBAND TAKES A BREAK

Creative burnout.

For BTS, who have been churning out music nonstop for nine years, creative burnout must have weighed in on their decision to take a break, says Billboard K-pop columnist Jeff Benjamin. in the past, it seems more “meaningful”. The seven boys remain under contract with their label until 2026, which is “essential to keep them together”, continued Jeff Benjamin.

Asked during a dinner, organized to celebrate their ninth anniversary, the seven artists notably pointed out their busy and non-stop work rhythm which does not allow them to take the time to think about their future development, solo but also as a group.

“I've always thought BTS was different from other groups, but the problem with K-pop and the whole star system is that they don't give you time to mature. You have to keep churning out music non-stop,” RM said at that dinner.

Since their debut in 2013, the seven members of BTS have, in parallel with their common career, developed individual projects. If J-Hope, Jimin, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Suga and V confide that this decision to take a break was difficult to make, they nevertheless reveal that their albums and solo singles will quickly see the light of day.

“We can't stop thinking about our audience. No matter what, we want to be the kind of artists that fans remember. We are going through a tough time right now as we are trying to find our identity and it is an exhausting and long process,” Jimin said.

J-Hope will be the first of the group to formalize this new individual start. The artist will headline the American Lollapalooza festival on July 31.

An unspoken reason?

Behind the decision of the South Koreans of BTS to take a break would also hide an unspoken reason, namely the compulsory military service according to some specialists. Any South Korean man under the age of 30 must indeed perform two years of military service, in particular because of the threat posed by North Korea. The prospect of conscription is getting closer for the members of BTS, especially for Jin, 29 years old, who must enlist by next year or risk being put in prison.

Seoul grants exemptions from military service to some top athletes, such as Olympic medalists, and classical music artists, but not to K-pop stars. “As a young South Korean, I believe that service military is a natural course. And as I have always said, I will answer my country's call when it arrives," Jin said in 2020. "The issue of military service was clearly present in the announcement," said Lee Moon-won, a K-pop culture commentator.

Allowing the band members to focus on their own solo careers was "a logical decision," he adds, since the call-up of the seven boys will disrupt the band's lineup for years to come.