Full Breakdown
BTS Leader RM Reveals Members' Mental Strain Ahead of 2024 Reunion
5/31/2026, 8:04:01 PM
Reunion After Military Hiatus: Core Event
In May 2024, RM, leader of BTS, described a private dinner at Jimin’s home held after Jin’s discharge from the South Korean military. He said all seven members were “in a bad mental state” and that “there were tears.” The gathering preceded the group’s public reunion later that year, ending a hiatus that began in 2022 when each member entered mandatory service.
Background: Mandatory Service and Hiatus
South Korea requires all able-bodied men to serve roughly 18 months. BTS staggered enlistments forced a pause in group activities in 2022; Jin returned first in late 2023, and the final member completed service in 2025. This marked the first full break for the group since their 2013 debut.
Timeline of Key Moments
- 2022 – BTS announces hiatus for military service.
- Late 2023 – Jin discharged; informal dinner at Jimin’s house.
- May 2024 – RM discusses the dinner on a Weverse livestream.
- July 2024 – Free concert in Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul; 104,000 attendees, livestream to 190+ countries.
- August 2024 – Release of “ARIRANG” and debut of new tracks at Goyang Stadium.
- 2026-2027 – Planned 79-show world tour across 34 regions.
Data & Statistics
The 2026-2027 tour will include 79 live shows in 34 regions, the largest BTS tour to date. The free Gwanghwamun Square concert drew roughly 104,000 fans and was streamed to over 190 nations via Netflix, setting a South Korean record for public concert attendance.
Official Statements
RM said the emotional strain of military service reinforced his commitment to keep BTS together. He described the reunion as motivation to produce new music that would “pay back” fans for their patience and pledged to work harder to maintain the group’s cohesion.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When Jin-hyung was discharged from the military… at that time, everyone was in a bad mental state,” — Kim Nam-joon (RM), Leader of BTS
- “We talked about a lot of things,” — Kim Nam-joon (RM)
- “to work harder to hold this [team] together.” — Kim Nam-joon (RM)
- “I wanted to pay back for that.” — Kim Nam-joon (RM)
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
RM’s interview says the Jimin-house dinner occurred “a year before the whole group had completed their enlistment,” yet other statements indicate the full group reunited earlier in 2024 after all members finished service. The exact discharge dates for each member remain unspecified in the available reports.
Why It Matters
RM’s remarks underscore the mental-health challenges faced by idols during compulsory service, raising broader concerns about support structures in the K-pop industry. The record-breaking concert and expansive tour illustrate BTS’s sustained global influence despite the hiatus.
What’s Next
BTS will co-headline the inaugural FIFA World Cup Final halftime show with Madonna and Shakira. The group will continue its 2026-2027 world tour, promoting “ARIRANG” and any surprise tracks released before the tour ends.
