BTS band leader RM Namjoon has cleared the air and confirmed that the band is not going on a hiatus. He clarified that the members want to focus on solo projects along with group albums.
The K-pop rapper wrote on a fan platform Weverse that the media was quick to jump to conclusions and the screenshots of him crying went viral. "I wonder if I should not have been brave enough to share".
The news of the band going on a "hiatus" was announced during a televised dinner on Tuesday celebrating their 9th debut anniversary. One of the members talked about a "hiatus" in Korean. It soon went viral and caused their talent agency Hybe to lose $1.7 billion.
The company and the band soon clarified that the word "hiatus" was the result of a mistranslation. After the speculations ended, the share value of Hybe once again started rising.
RM's statement read that BTS members expressed their desire to expand the range of activities during the dinner. "Portions of the video are being blown out of proportion and interpreted incorrectly".
He insisted that BTS is not even considering disbanding the team at all. The band leader added that a plan for individual activities of the group is already set up. "BTS has had long-term breaks in the past and each artist will have their own break to focus on individual activities".
The singer further stated that BTS and Hybe aim to establish the band as a "21st-century pop icon through diversification of activities''.