K-pop supergroup BTS says it's making time for solo projects
Global superstars BTS said they are taking time to focus on solo projects, but the company behind the groundbreaking Kpop group said they are not taking a hiatus.
The seven-member group with hits like “Butter” and “Dynamite” talked about their future in a video posted Tuesday celebrating the nine-year anniversary of their debut release. They just released a three-disc anthology album, “Proof,” last week.
Band member Suga asked the group if they should talk about why they were going into a hiatus as they sat down for a group dinner. They discussed having to deal with COVID-19 interrupting their touring plans and music releases, as well as what each one thought about their individual artistic goals.
The group spoke in Korean, and the word “hiatus” was used on English subtitles included on the video.
But a statement from Hybe, the South Korean entertainment company behind BTS, said they'll still be working on projects as a group, as well as individually. “BTS are not taking a hiatus. Members will be focusing more on solo projects at this time,” the statement said.
No details about future BTS collaborations or the solo projects were announced Tuesday.
BTS has a global fan base that follows the group and members online and in recent years the group's profile has risen overseas. The group recently addressed the U.N. General Assembly and went to the White House to discuss with President Joe Biden ways to curb violence against Asian Americans.
The band members — J-Hope, RM, Suga, Jungkook, V, Jin and Jimin — opened up about the struggle to develop as individual artists within the K-pop genre.
“The problem with Kpop and the whole idol system is that don't give you time to mature,” said RM.
Some of the group members appeared to be crying during the conversation.