BTS staying strong amid Suga's controversy as RM and Jungkook focus on military life, new music

K-pop

BTS staying strong amid Suga's controversy as RM and Jungkook focus on military life, new music

Published: 02 Sep. 2024, 10:45 Updated: 03 Sep. 2024, 12:55

KIM JI-YE
kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr

BTS's RM and Megan Thee Stallion are set to release ″Neva Play″ on Friday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

BTS remains strong despite the controversy surrounding one of its members, Suga, as RM prepares to release a collaborative song with U.S. rapper Megan Thee Stallion, while Jungkook provides updates on his military life.

RM, who is also fulfilling his mandatory military service, is set to release a new song titled "Neva Play" with Megan Thee Stallion on Friday, as announced by the rapper on her Instagram on Monday.

"This is one of my favorite RM verses I’ve heard!" she said in her Instagram post. "I’ve never heard him rap in this style before."

The song will be RM’s first release in a little over three months since his latest solo album, "Right Place, Wrong Person," which was released on May 24.

RM and BTS have previously collaborated with Megan Thee Stallion when she was featured in the remix version of the band’s 2021 hit "Butter."

RM is expected to complete his military service on June 10, 2025.

Jungkook, who began his military service in December last year, posted a short message on Weverse on Sunday, his birthday.

"ARMY, thank you for wishing me a happy birthday," Jungkook wrote in the post. "I’m doing fine. I’ll finish the rest of my military service well."

"I hope ARMY is doing well in the meantime," he added.

Jungkook is scheduled to complete his military service on June 11, 2025.

Suga was recently handed over to prosecutors on Aug. 30 after he was allegedly caught drunk driving an e-scooter earlier this month.

The singer was found driving under the influence on Aug. 6 with a blood alcohol level of 0.227 percent, far exceeding the threshold for license revocation, which is set at 0.08 percent.

Suga and his agency, BigHit Music, faced criticism for initially referring to the e-scooter as a “kickboard” in their first apology on Aug. 7. These two types of scooters are classified differently by law, leading to different sentences for drunk driving.

Suga is currently serving his mandatory military service as a social service agent, a role that typically involves a regular daily work schedule, allowing him to return home after work hours.

He is scheduled to complete his service in June next year.

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]