SEOUL, December 07 (AJP) - BTS leader RM confessed he had repeatedly questioned whether the K-pop superstar group should disband or suspend its activities altogether, despite the seven members all having finished their military service by June this year, implying deep internal pressure and a series of undisclosed circumstances that prevented the group from returning sooner.
During a Weverse live session on Saturday, RM directly addressed fans wondering about the group’s long silence. “Many people ask, ‘Why did you waste the second half of 2025?’ or ‘Why didn’t you do anything?’” he said. “I also wanted to pursue various activities after being discharged, but there were circumstances I can’t talk about. I don’t have the right to explain everything, so I can’t disclose it all.”
Rapper Suga was the last of the bandmates to be released in June, following RM, V, Jimin, and Jung Kook earlier in the year and Jin, the eldest who was discharged in June 2024, and j-hope in October in the same year.
BTS has not held a concert since October 2022, marking the longest hiatus of the group’s career.
After concluding the “Permission to Dance” tour and releasing a series of solo projects, all seven members entered South Korea’s mandatory military service between late 2022 and 2024. Their enlistments halted group activities at a time when BTS was at the height of global influence, driving billions of dollars in cultural exports, tourism and global attention to South Korea.
For years, BTS’s military service had been the subject of national debate over whether cultural contributions could warrant exemption. HYBE ultimately confirmed in October 2022 that the members would serve without exception.
Their staggered schedules ensured a full-group comeback would not occur until all had been discharged in 2025.
With all seven now having completed their service, fans widely expected a swift reactivation of BTS as a full group. RM, however, indicated the path has not been simple.
“I couldn’t sleep. The pressure is huge.”
RM described the emotional weight of preparing for a return on such a massive scale. “I want to perform right away, but preparing for it requires so much, and the personal pressure is huge,” he said. “Since last month, I haven’t even been able to sleep. I was thinking about whether I should get a prescription for sleeping pills."
He apologized for the extended wait. “I’m truly sorry for making you wait so long. But we have our reasons, and we can’t come back easily until we can present something you’ll be satisfied with,” he said.
“Considering the scale and all the circumstances involved, this may sound like an excuse, but I ask for your understanding. We will return. There may be times when it’s not exactly what you hoped for, but I will do my best.”
RM confirmed that the group’s new album—planned for release next spring—is nearly complete, with the members practicing daily and filming content throughout December. “Our comeback is soon,” he said. “We will be practicing and filming this month.”
The livestream took a more vulnerable turn when RM revealed he had repeatedly questioned the future of the group. “I’ve wondered thousands of times, ‘Would it be better for the team to disband or go on hiatus?’” he said. “But the reason we’re still together is because of the love between the members and the respect we have for our fans.”
His remarks offered a rare glimpse into the strain of managing expectations of a global fanbase while navigating military obligations, creative direction and personal well-being.
“I love you in my own way.”
RM ended the livestream with a message to ARMY. “I love you all. I hope you really know that,” he said. “Even if that love doesn’t come back to me in the same way, I’ll keep loving you in my own way.”
With the full group reunited and their comeback preparations underway, BTS’s return next spring is poised to be one of the most closely watched events in the global music industry—marking the end of a three-year military hiatus and the beginning of the group’s next chapter.
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