Countdown to BTS comeback: Inside BigHit Music's high-stakes plan for group's full reunion
Jin (left) will be embarking on a global tour, performing in nine cities, while J-hope will be concluding his global tour on June 14. PHOTOS: BTS.BIGHITOFFICIAL/INSTAGRAM
SEOUL - 'You waited for me, now what do you want? Say it all,' replied BTS member V when a fan asked, 'Only nine days left before discharge — are you ready, Taehyung?' during a Weverse chat on June 1.
Excitement is mounting among BTS fans, or Army, worldwide as all seven members of the K-pop boy band will have completed their military service by the end of June, marking the end of a nearly two-year hiatus and paving the way for a highly anticipated full-group comeback.
RM, 30, and V (whose real name is Taehyung), 29, will be discharged on June 10, followed by Jimin, 29, and Jungkook, 27, on June 11. Suga, 32, who is currently a social service worker as an alternative form of duty, is scheduled for release on June 21.
This marks the conclusion of BTS' military enlistment period, which began in December 2022 with Jin, 32. Jin and J-Hope, 31, who completed their service in 2024, have already resumed solo activities.
As the final discharge dates approach, speculation is swirling about when BTS will resume group activities. Industry insiders anticipate a full-group comeback as early as the end of 2025 or in the first half of 2026.
Jin, J-Hope take lead with global solo concerts
In the meantime, solo efforts by members have kept the group's presence strong, both musically and in fan engagement. Jin, the first to return, has announced his first solo fan concerts, #Runseokjin_EP.Tour, taking place on June 28 and 29 at Goyang Sports Complex just outside Seoul. The concert is a spinoff of his solo variety series Run Seokjin and symbolises his direct outreach to global fans. Seokjin is Jin's Korean name.
Following the Seoul concert, Jin will embark on a global tour, performing 18 shows across nine cities: Chiba and Osaka in Japan; Anaheim, Dallas, Tampa and Newark in the US; London in the UK; and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Jin's first solo concert will be held on June 28 at Goyang Sports Complex.
PHOTO: BTS.BIGHITOFFICIAL/INSTAGRAM
Meanwhile, J-Hope will conclude his global tour at the same venue it started with an encore concert, J-Hope Tour Hope on the Stage Final, on June 13 and 14.
'We're preparing thoroughly so that J-Hope's signature explosive energy and immersive performance can be felt to the fullest,' BTS' record label BigHit Music said.
During the concert, J-Hope will debut a new digital single, Killin' It Girl (feat. GloRilla), which caps off his solo single project. The hip-hop track and its music video will be released on June 13.
J-Hope will be releasing a new digital single on June 13.
PHOTO: BTS.BIGHITOFFICIAL/INSTAGRAM
J-Hope began his world tour on Feb 28 at KSPO Dome in Seoul and went on to perform 31 shows in 15 cities including New York, Chicago, Mexico City, Manila, Saitama, Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok, Macao, Taipei and Osaka - drawing some 470,000 fans.
'Fans, myself included, are eagerly waiting to see what new synergies emerge among the members. Of course, we're also excited to see them perform their old favourites,' said Grace Kao, a sociology professor at Yale University in the US who also lectures on K-pop.
'Given how both J-Hope and Jin have showcased more mature versions of themselves, it's likely that BTS' new music will reflect that evolution. The members' individual identities will likely stand out even more in the group's next chapter,' she added.
BTS Festa returns bigger with fan-centered experiences
In addition, the 2025 BTS Festa - an annual celebration of BTS' debut in 2013 - on June 13 will take place at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on June 13 to14, shortly after all members, except Suga, are discharged. Fans are buzzing over the possibility of surprise appearances or special events involving the full group.
This year's Festa, which opened on June 1, features an expanded set-up with more than 20 exhibition booths across two halls. Highlights include a giant Army Bomb (the official BTS light stick) light show and photo zone; Voice Zone featuring members' voice messages; Trophy Zone displaying the group's achievements; and BTS Locker, which exhibits members' personal items.
For fans unable to attend in person, BTS will also roll out diverse online content between June 2 and 13, including Hoseokjin Photos, Anchor Showdown, Hoseokjin's 12:00 and 20130613 Congratulations, offering global fans a chance to participate in the festivities. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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