K-Pop

How can you miss them if they don’t go away? That’s essentially what BTS‘ RM said during a Weverse livestream over the weekend, during which the singer promised ARMY that the K-pop supergroup is on target to regroup right on schedule.
After reading a heartfelt letter from an ARMY member expressing how much the group has meant to their fans over the past decade, RM offered some assurance, and hope, that things will be back to normal soon.

“I hope our songs and solo projects could be another reminder to you guys of how important ARMY was, has been and will be in our lives at the same time,” he read, speaking in English after listening to the ARMY-created tribute song “Love Letters” during the chat. “I hope that it is a reminder that spring will come again. Please continue to keep BTS alive in your hearts, in this moment and perhaps throughout your entire life.”

After sharing the ARMY thoughts, RM got personal, noting that band mate Suga talked “a lot” about the feelings he had during his 28-show solo run this year and how much love he felt from ARMY, who are patiently “waiting for the reunion in 2025”; BTS’ seven members announced last year that they were taking a group break to focus on solo projects while the men prepare to take part in South Korean’s mandatory military service requirement.

“Even though we’re doing our solo activities on our own… what I’m thinking these days when I’m doing my solo projects is… this is just like a vacation,” RM said of his solo efforts, which include his recent hot trending songs No. 1 collab with Colde on “Don’t Ever Say Love Me.”

“To get back to where I was, which was BTS and ARMY. All the solo [activities] is just a journey,” he said. “But it is a very important journey for Chapter 2. But it’s a journey to get back home safe.”

And then RM uttered the words all of ARMY have been waiting to hear.

“Eventually, when we get back and reunite together in 2025… [we will] be back for sure. We’ll be joining together again. And that will be in 2025.”

During the 40-minute video chat, RM also commented on his buzz cut (“no reason” he said when someone asked why he’d shorn his locks) and busted out some dance moves, admitting that he’s “scared” he’s going to forget the group’s choreo if he doesn’t keep practicing. He also munched on a candy bar and fessed up that he doesn’t really watch soccer unless it’s the World Cup.

So far, Jin and J-Hope have entered the military and Suga is expected to go next.

Watch RM’s live chat below.

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BTS‘ V is the latest member of the superstar K-pop group to announce a solo album. BIGHIT Music announced on Tuesday (Aug. 8) that V’s debut solo effort, Layover, will drop on Sept. 8. The collection will feature six tracks: “Rainy Days,” “Blue,” “Love Me Again,” “Slow Dancing,” For Us” and a bonus track piano version of “Slow Dancing.”
In a release announcing the collection, BIGHIT suggested that ARMY listen to the album’s tracks in order, from 1-5, noting that “Slow Dancing” is the focus track of the collection, describing it as a “1970s romantic soul style track [that] exudes a laid-back and free-spirited feeling.”

The announcement was accompanied by a 15-second visualizer in which a series of packages featuring the album float onto the balcony of an apartment building, ending with the album title in all-cap white letters — with the V rendered in purple — filling the screen.

“Love Me Again” is described as a “captivating R&B track that highlights V’s low pitch voice,” while “For Us,” is a “pop R&B track that serves as an epilogue, stirring up deep emotions with V’s vocals and unique lyrics.” All five album tracks will have official videos.

V worked with NewJeans creative director/ADOR president Hee Jin Min on the album, with BIGHIT revealing that Min oversaw the entire production of the collection, including music, choreography, design and promotion. V’s previous solo efforts include “Stigma,” “Singularity,” “Winter Bear” and “Inner Child”; his most recent original solo songs are 2021’s “Christmas Tree,” which was on the soundtrack of the Netflix K-drama Our Beloved Summer and last year’s version of the holiday classic “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.”

The announcement about V’s album comes just after BIGHIT confirmed that Suga has begun his military enlistment process, becoming the third member to enlist in South Korea’s mandatory military service, following Jin and J-Hope.

Check out the Layover teaser below.