HYBE’s Key Producer Pdogg: “BTS Members Explore Their Individual Musical Identities While in Military Service”

HYBE, which acts as BTS’s management company and record label, is leveraging the members’ military service periods as platforms for their individual musical activities. While fulfilling their mandatory male military service, BTS members are pursuing solo projects to explore their own musical identities and styles. The members’ military service schedules vary. Jin discharged in June 2024, while j-hope left military service last October. RM, SUGA, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook are currently serving in the military and are scheduled to discharge sequentially within this month. Jin has been working on his second solo album, “Echo,” which features rock elements, experimenting with Britpop productions using pop-punk riffs and orchestral strings, as well as country rock. j-hope held a North American tour at the Barclays Center in New York in mid-March, delivering performances that expanded the horizons of hip-hop, ranging from “MIC Drop” to his new track “MONA LISA.” The remaining members serving in the military also continue their musical activities. RM presented an emotionally rich indie sound on his critically acclaimed solo album “Right Person, Wrong Place,” while V expressed the warmth of nostalgic jazz through various duets, including one with Bing Crosby. Jung Kook topped charts with his pop-glossy western pop style, and Jimin reached the top spot by exploring dark pop territory. The person guiding BTS’s musical direction is Pdogg (real name Kang Hyo-won), the top K-pop producer who has been steering the group’s sound since their Debut in 2013. In a rare interview with foreign media, Pdogg explained that he “communicates directly with the members to understand their mental states and conceptualize the initial song ideas.” The process involves laying the foundation for a song or selecting demos that fit the concept in the studio, then allowing the artist to draft lyrics before bringing in collaborators to finalize the musical vision. Pdogg emphasized that “communication” is the most important aspect of working with BTS. He stated, “Since the members’ songs and albums often revolve around personal stories, I invest a lot of time talking to each member and communicating what they are thinking.” This creative philosophy serves as the basis for BTS’s members to carry out original and personalized musical activities even during their military service, playing a key role in expanding K-pop’s boundaries on the global stage.