BTS, a South Korean band, will take a “temporary hiatus” to pursue individual careers. The news broke as the seven-man band prepared for their annual FESTA meal, which commemorates the group’s inception.
RM, a band member, announced the news in an emotional moment, adding that they all wanted the opportunity to pursue their own songs.
J-Hope was named as a headliner for Chicago’s Lollapalooza festival in July, and Jung Kook released a solo track called “My You” on Sunday. And the announcement for them taking a break came following this.
“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,” said RM. “You have to keep producing music and keep doing something.”
“We should spend some time apart to learn how to be one again,” added J-Hope. “I hope you don’t see this as a negative thing, and see it as a healthy plan. BTS will become stronger that way.”
The band members assured their fans that this isn’t the end of BTS and they will hopefully be back soon in the future. However, for now, they want to focus on their individual careers to grow more as musicians.
