Eram Shaikh I still remember exactly where I was when I watched that FESTA dinner video in June 2022. One moment, everyone was laughing, Jimin was tearing up, j-hope was being his usual sunshine self, and then Suga just quietly said it: “We’re going on hiatus now.”
My heart dropped.
And within hours, my timeline was flooded with “BTS IS BREAKING UP” headlines from outlets that clearly had not watched the actual video. That night was genuinely hard, not because BTS was ending, but because the media made it feel that way, and that was not what was happening at all.
So let’s set the record straight, once and for all.
Why Did BTS Take a Break?
BTS took a break for two reasons. First, in June 2022, they announced a hiatus from group activities to focus on individual growth and solo music β something the demanding K-pop idol system rarely allows.
Second, and more significantly, all seven members were required to complete South Korea’s mandatory military service, with enlistments staggered between December 2022 and December 2023. The break was planned, not a crisis, and a reunion was always part of the plan.
What Actually Happened at BTS FESTA 2022
BTS’s annual FESTA is a celebration of their debut anniversary β a tradition ARMY looks forward to every June. In 2022, it marked their ninth year together.
During the dinner, it was Suga who set the tone: “We have to talk about the direction we’re taking.” RM followed: “The group has definitely changed. We have to accept that we’ve changed.”
What came next was emotional and honest β not dramatic or final.
RM said, “I always thought that BTS was different from other groups, but the problem with K-pop and the whole idol system is that they don’t give you time to mature. You have to keep producing music and keep doing something.”
That quote hit differently. Because, as fans, we knew how relentless their schedule had been. Back-to-back comebacks, world tours, award shows, and content β all through a pandemic. Of course, they needed space to breathe.
J-Hope added, “I think we should spend some time apart to learn how to be one again. I hope you don’t see this as a negative thing, and see it as a healthy plan. I think BTS will become stronger that way.“
That’s not a breakup speech. That’s seven grown men being vulnerable about what they needed.
Also check out: How many songs BTS have
The Two-Part Reason Behind the BTS Break
There were 2 major reasons behind BTSβ break:
Part 1: Creative Burnout and Individual Growth
The first reason was deeply personal and creative.
During the FESTA dinner, RM said that while they’ve accomplished many things together, they needed to develop and mature as individuals and solo artists. The K-pop idol system (with its rigid timelines and constant output expectations) doesn’t really allow for that kind of breathing room.
Jimin added: “We can’t help but think of our fans no matter what; we want to be the kind of artists that are remembered by our fans.“
Even in a moment about stepping back, their first thought was ARMY. That’s so BTS.
Each member had solo music they had been working on for years, but never had the bandwidth to fully develop. This hiatus was about finally giving those projects the attention they deserved β RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook all releasing individual albums during this period.
Part 2: Mandatory Military Service
The second, and bigger, reason came a few months later in October 2022.
By South Korean law, all young, able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 28 must serve between 18 and 21 months in the military, with no exceptions for K-pop stars.
There had been years of speculation β would BTS get an exemption? A special amendment had been passed allowing K-pop artists to delay until age 30, but a full exemption never came.
BIGHIT stated: “BIGHIT MUSIC has focused to the milestone moment when it would be possible to respect the needs of the country and for these healthy young men to serve with their countrymen, and that’s now.”
Jin had said in a prior interview: “Military service is an important duty for our country. So I feel that I will try to work as hard as I can and do the most I can until I am called.”
Source: Rolling Stone
The news, which came at the height of the band’s global fame, sent HYBE’s stock price down 25% and raised questions about the group’s future. Which, in hindsight, feels a little dramatic given how the story ends.
The Full BTS Military Timeline
Here’s how the enlistments played out, one by one:
| Member | Enlistment Date | Type of Service | Discharge |
| Jin | December 13, 2022 | Active duty (Army trainer) | June 12, 2024 |
| J-Hope | April 18, 2023 | Active duty (Army trainer) | October 17, 2024 |
| Suga | September 22, 2023 | Civil/social service | June 21, 2025 |
| RM | December 11, 2023 | Active duty (military band) | June 10, 2025 |
| V | December 11, 2023 | Active duty | June 10, 2025 |
| Jimin | December 12, 2023 | Active duty | June 2025 |
| Jungkook | December 12, 2023 | Active duty | June 2025 |
Suga chose social service due to a shoulder surgery, starting training on September 22, 2023. He was the final BTS member to complete his service on June 21, 2025.
What the Media Got Completely Wrong
I cannot stress this enough. The “BTS broke up” narrative that spread in June 2022 was misleading, and it caused real distress among fans who did not have the full context.
After the video went viral, a spokesperson for the group clarified: “To be clear, they are not on hiatus, but will take time to explore some solo projects at this time and remain active in various different formats.”
Source: Billboard
RM also posted a lengthy message on Weverse saying: “We’ll do our best to show you good performances, whether it’s as a team or as an individual.”
The guys were still renewing contracts. HYBE confirmed plans for a 2025 reunion. Solo albums kept coming. The idea that this was a disbandment was always a media narrative, not reality.
What BTS Did During the Break
While in service, the members didn’t go completely silent. Jin leaned into different themes of love, heartbreak, and farewells from his single Astronaut to Happy and Echo, which he released after his return from service.
Jimin showed his raw, unfiltered side with Face and Muse, even getting #1 on Billboard charts.
On the other hand, Jungkook delivered Golden. He smashed records and took the world by storm.
J-Hope’s album Jack in the Box dropped in July 2022, and he became the first South Korean act to headline Lollapalooza. After his discharge, he released singles like “Sweet Dreams,” “Mona Lisa,” and “Killin’ It Girl.”
ARMY kept streaming, kept charting their music, and showed up every single time.
BTS Is Back β ARIRANG and the BTS World Tour
This is the section I honestly never thought I’d get to write during those long years of waiting. And now that I’m writing it, I’m still kind of emotional about it.
ARIRANG β their first studio album since Be in 2020 β was released on March 20, 2026, by Big Hit Music. It is the group’s first release since they went on hiatus for each member to complete their military service.
The album was written and recorded over months of LA-based songwriting sessions in 2025, featuring collaborators like Mike WiLL Made-It, Flume, Diplo, and Ryan Tedder β but its heart is rooted in Korean cultural identity.
J-Hope explained to Apple Music: “It was all about showcasing who we are, our identity and our roots.”
RM added: “We are all Koreans and we are proud of where we came from, and I think the song has lyrics and melodies that are very universal.”
Source: Apple Music
The album’s name is not random. Big Hit stated the title “captures BTS’ identity as a group that began in Korea,” drawing on the emotional depth of the ancient Korean folk song Arirang β its sense of yearning, longing, and the ebb and flow of life.
The ARIRANG Track List
The 14-track album includes: “Body to Body,” “Hooligan,” “Aliens,” “FYA,” “2.0,” “No. 29,” “Swim” (the title track), “Merry Go Round,” “Normal,” “Like Animals,” “they don’t know ’bout us,” “One More Night,” “Please,” and “Into the Sun.”
Notably, this is BTS’s first and only album without any unit songs or solo songs β a deliberate choice that feels like a statement. After years apart, they came back as one.
You can also check out BTS concert setlist and what our boys are performing!
The BTS World Tour 2026
The Arirang or BTS World Tour began on April 9, 2026, in Goyang, South Korea, and spans more than 85 dates across 34 cities in 23 countries.
The tour features stops across Tokyo, North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, with additional Japan and Middle East dates still being planned. North American dates include cities like Tampa, East Rutherford, Foxborough, Baltimore, Arlington, Toronto, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
The tour is BTS’s longest to date, running from April 2026 through March 2027, ending in Manila, Philippines.
And if you’re wondering about BTS concert tickets β yes, most shows sold out almost immediately. All 46 initially announced shows across Goyang, Tokyo, North America, and Europe have sold out.
Also, you can read about BTS India concert ticket prices (what to expect) whenever the boys are here!
The comeback is real. The boys are back. And for ARMY, every sold-out show feels like a reward for years of patience.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. They took a planned hiatus for solo projects and mandatory military service. All seven members renewed their contracts with HYBE before enlisting.
From June 2022 to mid-2025 β roughly three years, with Suga completing service last in June 2025.
No. Bills for exemption stalled amid resistance from the military and concerns about fairness. All seven members served their full mandatory duties.
Yes. ARIRANG, their fifth studio album, was released on March 20, 2026, with an ongoing world tour running through 2027.
