BTS to Delay Comeback Even After Military Service Ends in Late June; HYBE CEO Says Time Needed for Vision Alignment

An immediate comeback by BTS following the completion of their military service appears unlikely. HYBE’s CEO, Lee Jae-sang, stated during a press conference held in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on March 31 that the group members are scheduled to finish their military duties by the end of the first half of this year, and that time is required for preparation and production before resuming activities. He added that while the company is working hard with top composers, the artists themselves also need careful consideration and preparation time. BTS decided to temporarily suspend group activities in June 2022 to focus on serving in the military. Looking at each member’s service status, the eldest member, Jin, enlisted in December 2022 and was discharged in June 2024. j-hope enlisted in April 2023 and was discharged in October 2024. SUGA began his service as a social service officer in September 2023 and is expected to finish it in June 2025. RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook enlisted together in December 2023 and are scheduled to be discharged in June 2025. The HYBE CEO explained that BTS’s comeback process goes beyond simply releasing new songs. He said, “Normally, the sequence follows songwriting, album release, and then touring, but BTS has already reached the level of global top artists. We are continuously discussing their vision and the ‘next’ step, and careful consideration must be given in line with that direction.” The members also remained active individually. Jin released his solo album “Astronaut,” j-hope made his debut with “Jack in the Box,” and SUGA unveiled “D-Day” under the name Agust D. RM released “Indigo,” Jimin released “Face,” V released “Layover,” and Jung Kook released “Golden,” all part of global collaboration projects. HYBE also stated that tour dates can only be finalized after new songwriting is completed. They explained, “Tour dates are usually determined after music production is finished. Since BTS members have already established themselves as global artists, we are continuously discussing the next step and vision, and strategies aligned with that direction must also be planned.”