Rumours are floating in the air about the possible disbandment of the South Korean K-pop sensation BTS, sparking disappointment among their fans, known as ARMY. One question that is raising concern among the ARMY is “When is BTS disbanding?“
BTS has inked its name in the music industry for over a decade, sweeping off major charts and awards every single day. Ever since the members of the band enlisted in the military service, questions about the group’s potential disbandment continue to pop up.
When is BTS disbanding?
The septet comprising of Jin, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin, Jungkook, V, and RM have proved their magic across the globe. The K-pop band has topped the music charts worldwide and influenced millions with their music and choreography.
The current contract of BTS with its management agency remains unclear but the group is said to stay together until 2025, so disbandment before then is highly unlikely. According to the statement in 2023, the group promised to stay together in 2025 and beyond.
The group activities were temporarily put on hold in 2022 after the band’s eldest member Jin enlisted in the military. Thereafter, the rest of the group members gradually started enlisting in the military, with Jungkook and Jimin enlisting in December last year.
Even though the group is pursuing solo projects like mixtapes, that doesn’t necessarily mean a split of the band. The members have repeatedly expressed their strong bond and desire to continue working together as BTS.
It is said that BTS has smashed the infamous ‘seven-year curse’ in K-pop. But what does it mean?
What is seven-year curse in K-pop? What does it mean for BTS?
BTS has created and broken several records since it debuted in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment. But what has grabbed eyeballs is BTS breaking the infamous seven-year curse in the K-pop world.
In South Korea, K-pop contracts typically last seven years, the maximum allowed by the Fair Trade Commission. At the seven-year mark, groups often face a crossroads: disband or renew their contracts. Unfortunately, many popular groups haven’t survived the curse. 2NE1, 4Minute, SISTAR, and Miss A are just a few examples of disbanded groups that fell victim to it.
But BTS has renewed its contract with its management label twice, once in 2018 and another one in 2022. Before their initial 7-year contract expired, BTS renewed their contracts with Big Hit for another term in 2018. This was surprising for the world as many groups disbanded around the 7-year mark.
Later in 2022, the group once again renewed its contract, however, the terms of the contract are not clear. Some believe the contract is till 2025 while some argue it is until 2027. But it is for sure that the group isn’t disbanding anytime soon.
Will BTS disband or continue after reunion?
BTS is synonymous with K-pop as the group has made a mark in the music industry, without a doubt. As the members of the group are currently enlisted in the military, fans often wonder “What lies ahead for BTS post-reunion in 2025?”
During the fans’ interaction, Suga said that the group wanted to put on a great performance, and it was a lot of fun when they met ARMY. He further said that they can do 10 more years for just that reason alone. This often states that disbandment is more likely a No than a Yes.
Jimin has also expressed his desire to continue the journey together, saying, “BTS exists, and I exist within BTS. So, I desperately want to continue our lives together for a long time.”
FAQs: When is BTS disbanding?
Here are some of the frequently asked questions related to BTS and its disbandment.
#1. Is BTS disbanding in 2023?
As of now, the group isn’t disbanding. All the members of the group are currently serving mandatory military service until 2025. In June 2023, BTS announced that they were going on hiatus in favour of solo careers but they would remain as a group.
#2. What year will BTS come back?
Jin, the eldest member of the group, is set to complete his military service in June 2024, followed by J-Hope in September, and then Suga. Other members, V, RM, Jimin, and Jungkook enlisted in the military service in December 2023, so they will be back after completing at least 18 months. Fans can expect the reunion of all the members in the second half of 2025.
Related:
Conclusion: When is BTS disbanding?
The K-pop industry without BTS is like pizza without cheese. Just like cheese, which adds richness and flavour to pizza, similarly, BTS is an essential element in the K-pop industry. It is not that the K-pop industry can’t continue to exist or innovate without them but fans often believe that K-pop might lose its edge without BTS.
The texture that BTS brings to the table has given a magical and unique shape to the K-pop industry. As they prepare for their eventual reunion after mandatory military service, a question lingers in everyone’s minds: Will these global superstars continue to break the records, or does a different path lie ahead of them?