K-pop group BTS have offered a candid glimpse into their long-awaited comeback, sharing that their return to working as a unit was shadowed by concerns over creative clashes and personal evolution.
The boyband, composed of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, had been on hiatus since 2022 while they completed South Korea’s mandatory military service.
The members pursued individual projects while on hiatus and came back together last year to work on their latest studio album Arirang.
In a new interview, V revealed he had been concerned that individual success could disrupt the the band’s chemistry upon reuniting.
“Since all seven of us have had solo careers and strengthened our egos. I thought that meant everyone would have much stronger opinions when we came back to work together,” V, whose real name is Kim Taehyung, told Rolling Stone. “But to my surprise, all of the members came in so open-minded, and had grown the depths of their character. I learned so much from them working on this album.”
While on hiatus, all seven members released solo music, with several marking individual milestones. Jimin became the first South Korean solo artist to top the Billboard Hot 100, while J-Hope made history as the first artist from the country to headline a main stage at a major US festival when he performed at Lollapalooza.
Arirang was released in March 2026, the first full-group record in nearly six years, and accompanied by a free outdoor concert at Seoul’s historic Gwanghwamun Square the next day, streamed live on Netflix.
The album’s lead single, Swim, debuted at No 1 on global charts. Arirang sold nearly four million copies on its first day and topped the Billboard 200. The group have since launched the 82-date Arirang world tour, spanning 34 cities and scheduled to run through March 2027.
When the album’s tracklist was released in March, fans questioned why Jin had no writing credits, an absence later explained in the documentary BTS: The Return, which showed that the ‘The Astronaut’ singer was still on tour when the other members travelled to Los Angeles for a songwriting camp.
In the documentary, it is revealed that an exhausted Jin had flown to join the members the day after his tour ended, by which time the “album is almost done”.
“I was worried fans would be bored while everyone was in the military, so there I was soothing the hearts of our fans. Meanwhile, all the songs got made,” he told Rolling Stone.
“I’m a little bummed. But there’s more to life than just the present. There’s the future. Plus, if I had been greedy and pushed the whole session so I could add my own songs, this interview would be happening months from now. Wouldn’t the fans be too bored during that time?”
Jin, whose real name is Kim Seokjin, was the first BTS member to enlist, beginning his service in late 2022 and completing the standard 18-month period until his discharge in June 2024. He went on to star in the Netflix variety show Kian’s Bizarre B&B, launched his own web series Run Jin shortly after returning, a spin-off of the group’s Run BTS, and later embarked on his first solo tour.
The 33-year-old, who was studying acting at Konkuk University when he was scouted by Big Hit Entertainment, also dashed fans’ hopes that he might take on acting projects alongside BTS.
“I just missed the other members so much. I’ve always thought there’s no reason to continue if it’s not with the group,” he said.
“I’ve always thought there’s no reason to continue if it’s not with the group. I guess a solo career is just not that important to me. If I did anything, it would be trying something different within the group when the fans are bored. I’m not interested in acting or anything like that.”
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