BTS video not about hiatus says boy band's agency BigHit Music
From right, J-Hope, Jimin, RM, Jungkook, Jin, Suga and V of BTS at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, on May 1, 2019.
BTS members will pursue solo projects along with activities as a whole band, according to BigHit Music on Wednesday.
“[BTS’s announcement] was not about them going on a hiatus; it was about the members teasing their future solo activities,” the agency told the Korea JoongAng Daily in a telephone call Wednesday.
In a 60-minute clip released on BTS’s official YouTube channel on Tuesday, the band members — J-Hope, RM, Jin, Suga, Jimin, V and Jungkook — reminisced about their past nine years together and announced that they will now be pursuing solo ventures while putting a pause on group activities.
But as confusion arose as to whether the band was going to continue as a group, HYBE Label's stock prices plummeted overnight. As of Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., HYBE’s shares had plunged 26.68 percent and stood at 141,500 won (around $110) each. It had closed at 193,000 won on Tuesday.
In the video, the members shared some insight into the hardships that they were experiencing as a band, which led to their decision to focus on solo activities in the near future.
"The problem with K-pop and the whole idol system is that they don't give you time to mature,” said band leader RM. “You have to keep producing music and keep doing something. And after I get up in the morning and get makeup done there's no time left for growth.”
His frustrations were shared by the rest of the members who said they have been under pressure to constantly churn out new music for the past nine years.
“I should be writing about what I’m feeling and the stories I want to tell,” Suga said, “but I’m just forcefully squeezing out words because I need to satisfy someone.”
"I think that change is what we need right now," said J-Hope. "It's important for BTS to start our second chapter."
BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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