By On June 14, the group uploaded a BTS Dinner Party video via its official YouTube channel ‘BANGTANTV’ to celebrate their 9th anniversary.
In the video, BTS opened their hearts and talked about their feelings and thoughts on difficulties and changes they went through amid the pandemic. The members also confessed that they faced challenges in the creative process as artists after actively working over the past nine years. “We have to satisfy people’s wants, and so I squeeze it out, and that is so painful. That’s how this job goes. I’ve made music since 2013 and I’ve never purely enjoyed it, because I was always squeezing it out. But doing that now feels completely different to what I wanted to say 7-8 years ago. Back then I had something to say, but lacked the skills. Now I don’t have anything to say,” SUGA mentions.
Members mentioned future plans to accelerate personal growth and embark on “BTS’ chapter 2.” They’ve decided to live separately for the meantime and focus on individual outputs.
In this new chapter, the group will allow themselves to express their individuality through the release of solo albums and collaborations with other artists.
j-hope marks the beginning with his upcoming solo album and further information will be shared in due course. During the dinner, j-hope addresses ARMY that their decision to spend some time apart as musicians is going to by a healthy plan and to not look at it as a bad thing.
The KPop group expressed their sentiments on somewhat being “guilty” on taking a break because they didn’t want to disappoint ARMY, but still hopeful that the entire fandom would understand. “I’m scared of you being disappointed in us. When I said that I wanted to take a break, it feels like I’m doing something bad…The thing I want to see for all of us, is that we all be together and perform on stage sincerely. When we gather, and talk like this, I want us to be happy without thinking about the rules of the world,” admits a tearful RM. Jimin pointed out that the members are already trying to think about what kind of musicians they want to be remembered by their fans and that it’s been difficult since it’s a long and tedious process that they have to come up with as a group.
There were also fun moments during the dinner like when SUGA talked about his collaboration with PSY and even did a quick “That, That” choreo, much to the amusement of his band mates. They also talked about their living conditions. Jin marveled by how many mattresses Jungkook owns, RM described Jin’s home as the kind that newly weds would live in, and RM’s place is like an art gallery says SUGA. Jin also shares that he’s been playing video games to the point that he seldom eats.
BIGHIT MUSIC said, “BTS now starts a new chapter with new solo projects as well as group projects. Members will take this time to achieve personal growth through various new activities, and we expect it to further strengthen the foundation for the group‘s long-run as a team. BIGHIT MUSIC will actively support the artists.”
BTS released an anthology album Proof on June 10. The album celebrates the nine years of BTS’ journey since their debut, and opens a new chapter upon their 10th year as artists. Proof consists of a number of tracks that presents BTS’ thoughts on their past, present and future including the lead single “Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment).”
EDIT:
going on hiatus
Last night, BTS maknae Jungkook went on VLive to clear speculations that they are disbanded or in hiatus. He continued by saying that the group is shooting episodes of RUN BTS. Jungkook is known for doing his “mini concerts” on the app, which every ARMY is happy to tune in. Almost 8 million ARMYs worldwide watched Jungkook sing, and at one point, washed bowls, on his latest VLive.
Namjoon also took to WeVerse to post a lengthy letter to ARMY, also clearing the words and actions that we’re misinterpreted by some people from the media. You can read a thread of the English translation of his letter here:
Denise J. Mallabo 