K-pop music band BTS announced that they are going on a long break to focus on their solo careers. The musicians were celebrating their nine-year-long journey at the FESTA dinner when they shared the news with their fans.
Band leader RM or Namjoon said the whole K-pop Idol system is constant work for them, and it does not give them enough time to focus on their own careers as solo performers. He confirmed that they all are planning on creating their own music during the hiatus.
He further said that the problem with the whole idol system doesn't give you time to mature because singers have to keep producing music and keep doing something. He added that he always thought BTS is different from the group and hinted that the problem applies to them as well.
BTS members RM, Jungkook, Jin, Jimin, Suga, J-Hope, and V have all released music as solo artists previously.
Band member Jimin said that it is a tough decision because all of them feel bad for letting down the fans in some respect. He added that the group cannot think of their fans no matter what.
"We want to be the kind of artists that are remembered by our fans. I think that's why we are going through a rough patch right now. We are trying to find our identity. That's an exhausting and long process," said the singer.
The South Korean band was formed in 2010 and debuted in 2013. They soon became an international sensation for focusing on personal and social commentary. Unusual for K-pop, they often chose themes like mental health, troubles of school-age youth and coming of age, loss, the journey towards loving oneself, and individualism.