By the end of this month, BTS’s hiatus will officially be over. RM and V will be discharged on June 10, 2025. Jimin and Jung Kook’s release comes a day later on June 11, 2025. Suga will be the last member to complete his military service on June 21, 2025 (Jin and j-hope already completed their service and were discharged in 2024).
And yet it doesn’t feel like the group has been inactive for nearly three years with all the content we’ve been getting.
The Hiatus That Wasn’t
BTS announced their hiatus back in June 2022 to focus on solo projects. In October of that year, their hiatus was extended through 2025 so that the members could complete South Korea’s mandatory military service. All able-bodied men with South Korean citizenship must serve for 18 to 21 months, typically before they turn 30.
BTS pre-recorded plenty of content that has been released gradually through the past few years. Interviews, behind the scenes recordings, photoshoots, pre-recorded live performances, etc. They released two singles as a group in 2023: The Planet for the animated film Bastions and a standalone single Take Two. Disney+ released an eight-part docuseries BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star that celebrated the group’s tenth anniversary.
And all the members have been active as soloists, releasing albums and singles even when certain members were already serving in the military. RM released two solo albums (Indigo and Right Place, Wrong Person) that debuted within the top 3 of Billboard’s 200 albums chart. Jung Kook performed at the 2022 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony, released his debut album Golden and collaborated with American artists Justin Timberlake, Usher and Latto. Suga went on a world tour and became an ambassador for the NBA.
This is just a small sampling of all the content that’s been given to us. It’s been beautiful and crazy trying to keep up with everything.
What Does This Mean for K-pop?
BTS showed that there are ways for male idols to remain visible while they complete their service. A “hiatus” can become something fun and even exciting for fans while they wait and their labels prepare for their return to the industry.
Of course, in order to recreate this strategy, timing is everything. BIGHIT MUSIC were careful to release all this content over a period of time, all while focusing on solo activities.
BTS’s hiatus didn’t feel like a hiatus because they refused to let it be one. It was a carefully planned presence in absence. It’s a reminder that sometimes a break can be the start of a new chapter. One that keeps fans engaged, builds anticipation, and proves that even in absence, connection can thrive.
