Korean superband BTS announces 'indefinite break'? Will now focus on solo projects, hoping to return 'someday'

BTS members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook on Tuesday announced they are taking an "indefinite hiatus" to focus on solo pursuits. The members dropped the news during their streamed annual Festa dinner, part of a celebration that marks their anniversary as a group. In the hour-long video, the members also drank, joked and reflected on their history together.

The group members, who have been together for nine years, made it clear that they are not disbanding and promised they would "return someday".

The seven members of the group are credited with generating billions of dollars for the South Korean economy.

Band leader RM or Namjoon said that the whole K-Pop Idol thing is a constant work, which doesn’t really give artistes time to focus on their own careers as solo performers, which is what they now intend to do with their break.

Band member Jimin said the group had been going through a "rough patch".

J-Hope said that "change is what we need right now" but offered hope for the group's return by adding "it's important for BTS to start our second chapter."

An English translation showed one member calling the break a "hiatus" - but a representative for the band later disputed that.

"To be clear, they are not on hiatus but will take time to explore some solo projects at this time and remain active in various different formats," said Hybe, the entertainment company that manages BTS.

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