Latest news with #EP.Tour
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
BTS' V replies to fan's countdown post: ‘You waited… now what?'; from solo concerts to FESTA and art exhibits, here's what's next for the K-pop stars
BIGHIT has confirmed plans for BTS members V, Jungkook, RM, and Jimin once they finish their military service, and fans have already kicked off a wave of welcome projects. The excitement is clearly mutual. Recently, Kim Taehyung hopped on Weverse, and when a fan reminded him, 'Only nine days left before discharge — are you ready, Taehyung?' he instantly replied with, 'Yes! What should we do now? What do you want to do?' Meanwhile, HYBE is gearing up for solo concerts, fresh tracks, and a massive fan festival, though a full group comeback and album will take some time. V, aka Kim Taehyung, enlisted in the military alongside group leader RM and joined the counter-terrorism unit (SDT), keeping a low profile on social media since. Now, just days away from his return, he reacted to a screenshot of his military countdown app showing 'Sergeant Elio D-9.' Fans asked him what the deal was with the name Elio and the photo where he's feeding grass to a sheep. Taehyung explained, 'It's my English name from when I went to an English fairy tale school,' and joked, 'Yes, I even bought grass.' Asked if he planned to meet fans like Jin and J-Hope, he said, 'Of course, I need to see ARMY as soon as possible.' Then added, 'You waited, so what do you want now? Tell me everything.' Also read: 'When BTS members got shares…': Fired BIGHIT director's explosive post reveals 'evil' HYBE let 'alcoholics' devour shareholders' stocks Here's the military timeline: RM and V will finish their service on June 10, followed by Jimin and Jungkook on June 11. They will greet fans from Chuncheon and Yeoncheon, respectively. Suga, who is serving in a social service role as an alternative to active duty, will be discharged on June 21. The mandatory military enlistment of the group started back in December 2022 with Jin, who, along with J-Hope, already completed their service last year and has resumed solo activities. After Suga and J-Hope, the oldest member of the group, Jin his first solo fan concerts called '#Runseokjin_EP.Tour'. The Epiphany crooner made his comeback with the second full-length album Echo in April 2025. The concert is an extension of his solo variety show 'Run Seokjin'. After his Seoul concerts, Jin will hit the road with 18 shows across nine cities worldwide. J-Hope is wrapping up his global world tour, where he ruled sold-out stadiums with his latest solo singles. His final encore concert, 'Hope on the Stage Final,' is set for June 13-14 in Osaka. During the concert, J-Hope will also debut a new digital single, 'Killin' It Girl (feat.. GloRilla).' 'We're preparing thoroughly so that J-Hope's signature explosive energy and immersive performance can be felt to the fullest,' BigHit said earlier. '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,' Grace Kao, a sociology professor and expert on K-pop from Yale, told Korea Herald. Also read: BTS' RM, V, Jimin and Jungkook to greet fans at designated locations post-discharge; BIGHIT says, 'Refrain from visiting' BTS FESTA is set for June 13-14 at Kintex, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. For those not in the know, it's the annual bash marking BTS's debut anniversary every June. This year, BTS hits 12. The festival promises to be bigger than ever, with over 20 exhibition booths and a massive 'Army Bomb' light show. While surprise appearances by the members aren't confirmed yet, fans can expect a 'Voice Zone' featuring recorded messages, a 'Trophy Zone' showcasing BTS's awards, and a 'BTS Locker' displaying personal items from the group. Apart from FESTA and solo tours, the agency is also set to debut Presence in Absence: Chapter 2, BTS Art. It will open in Seoul's Seongdong District and run until June 29, featuring works by 20 artists from 13 countries. Organisers say it's the largest independent BTS fan art exhibition ever, both in terms of international participation and the number of artists. The exhibition will focus on the individual personalities of each BTS member.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
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: 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: 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: 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 Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
