BTS | What the Group Is Up to Now
BTS: What the Group is Up to Now
Shaina Higgins
Welcome to MsMojo. With the end of their military enlistments coming up fast, today were catching up with all seven members of BTS as we look back at their accomplishments these last few years. Because together or apart, these guys are always giving ARMY a reason to celebrate.
June 13th is a special day for BTS and for ARMY. The anniversary of the groups debut is marked every year with an event called Festa, and always features performances and video events to celebrate the occasion. But in 2022, the tone was more bittersweet as BTS delivered the announcement that ARMY had been dreading. Suffering from burnout, the members explained that they were taking a group break to explore themselves as individuals before starting the mandatory military service required of all South Korean men. Sad as fans were to see the group separate for a minimum of three years, we knew it was the best thing for them as artists and as people. And its not as though they cut us off cold turkey. Far from it. All seven members have kept busy in the interim, with a steady stream of personal projects. Today well check in with each of the Bangtan boys, and see whats kept them running these last few years.
RM
As both leader and one of the primary creative forces behind BTS, RM has been an integral part of the groups ability to evolve over the years. However, prior to the groups hiatus, he admitted to feeling stifled by the constraints of the k-pop machine. No wonder then that his solo projects would be as layered, artistic, and diverse as RM himself. Released in December of 2022, Indigo marked his first full length studio release. It would eventually become Billboards highest charting album by a Korean soloist to that point in time. Indigo could best be called experimental hip hop, but even that seems too limited. Described by RM as a diary of 2019 to 2022, the collab heavy album freely follows his creative impulses across the 10 tracks. Songs range from dreamy to discordant, from indie minimalism to sweeping soundscapes, from retro grooves to rock-inspired hooks; no two belong in the same genre. With a lesser musician it might devolve into chaos, but RM weaves it all into an intriguing portrait of a true artist, linking all the pieces with his singular gift for self expression, be it in the raw confessional style of Lonely, or the powerful poetry of Wild Flower.
Youd think that would be enough of a statement to tide everyone over until his return from the military. But five months after his December 2023 enlistment, RM released another solo project in May of 2024. If Indigo was a diary, then the album titled Right Place, Wrong Person is a roadmap. It continued RMs study of exploration, both musically and internally, coming out as something that feels totally original. The songs also delve into a spectrum of styles, influences, and moods from melancholy to confrontational. But there is a deconstructed quality, and a witty sort of dark irony that acts as an album through line. Ultimately, Right Place, Wrong Person would appear on the 2024 Best of lists for numerous outlets. After hearing about his struggles pre-hiatus, its exciting to see RMs big creative swings paying off the way they have been. We werent exactly expecting the military to make a saxophonist out of him, but we look forward to seeing how that plays into his future work.
Jin
BTSs eldest member was also the first to ship off for the military, enlisting in December of 2022. However, as a going away gift for fans, he released his debut solo single, The Astronaut in October of that same year. The song made waves on various charts, and also netted Jin his first solo appearance on Billboard with a debut at number 51. He got the opportunity to perform it live when he joined his co-writers, Coldplay, on stage at their tour stop in Argentina. He also continued to explore his victual interests, learning how to make traditional alcohol with brewer Park Rok-dam and chef Baek Jong-won in a webshow called Drunken Truth. While bringing his own unique touch to the process, of course.
Following his discharge in June of 2024, Jin hit the ground running. Well, walking briskly, anyway. He served as one of South Koreas torchbearers at the 2024 Olympics. From the sublime to the absurd, Jin has also returned to our screens in the variety show format he always excels in. He recently starred in the Netflix reality show Kians Bizarre B&B. And hes been helping to fill the Run BTS shaped hole in ARMYs viewing schedule with a spin off entitled Run Jin, where he gets up to all kinds of hijinks for our amusement, both alone and with noteworthy guests. He made his musical comeback in October of 2024 with the single Ill Be There, ahead of the release of his first min-album in November. Accurately called Happy, the six tracks gave fans plenty to smile about, with a mix of emotive ballads and upbeat bops that ushered in Jins rockstar era. The EP Echo marked another comeback in May, 2025, alongside plans for Jins first world tour.
Suga
In a group full of habitually hard workers, it sometimes seems like no one works harder than Suga. Not only is he a major producer and songwriter for BTS, but he has frequently lent his talents to other artists, both behind the scenes and through featured collaborations. He would continue that in a 2023 release with Halsey for the video game Diablo IV. It wasnt the first time his track record of supporting other artists had come to the forefront. In December 2022, Suga had launched his webseries Suchwita, showing off his skill as an interviewer in comfortable, free-flowing conversations with his famous guests. Meanwhile, out of the public eye, he was focusing his energy on self-development. Were tired just hearing about his schedule, but for Suga this process of growing his skills was an important step in revitalizing him artistically.
And boy did it.
In April of 2023 Sugas album D-Day hit like a tidal wave. Though it was his first full length studio project, it was also the third entry in the chronology of his alter ego, Agust D. Having spent the previous two mixtapes wrestling with identity as his notoriety grew, in D-Day, Suga meditates on social issues and themes of freedom, while reconciling his various personas into a single self-image. The production is first class as Suga pulls from sources as diverse as traditional Korean instruments, alternative rock riffs, and Ryuichi Sakamoto piano features. The lyrics are complex, analytical, and sometimes nakedly vulnerable in a way a younger Agust D wouldnt have been ready for. Debuting to substantial popular and critical acclaim, D-Day would get a well-deserved victory lap when Suga embarked on his first solo world tour between April and August of 2023. By the end, the culmination of his long journey and the enthusiastic support of his work got even the consummately unflappable Suga welling up with emotion.
J-Hope
The sunshine of BTS is known for his energy, so it wasnt surprising that he was the first member to release a solo album. But when Jack in the Box dropped in July of 2022 ARMYs were not prepared. Dark, edgy, and aggressive, Jack in the Box existed in another universe to the bright, vibey mixtape Hope World. The album brims with old school swagger and rockstar attitude, showing a totally different side to J-Hope. And it works. Both Rolling Stone and NME would include Jack in the Box in their end of year rankings for best albums of 2022. And the songs themselves got a rave reception from the Lollapalooza crowds when J-Hope took the stage as the first South Korean solo artist to headline a US festival.
J-Hope would also go back to his roots in street dance with a miniseries called Hope on the Street, exploring his own past while travelling around the world to learn from other dancers. It was released in March 2024 while he was in the midst of his military service, alongside a mini album and a promotional collaboration with J. Cole. Following his discharge in October of 2024, Hobi took a much-earned breather, before diving back into the Idol life. His first post-military performance was at the request of French first lady Brigitte Macron for the charity Le Gala des Pièces Jaunes in January of 2025. In the subsequent months, he kicked off a world tour, and released several singles, switching things up again with a softer R&B sound. He is slated to return to the lights of Lollapalooza as a headliner at the Berlin festival in July 2025.
Jimin
Rather than plunging headfirst into solo work, Jimin eased his way in. He dueted with Wanna Ones Sungwoon on an OST for the drama Our Blues, before co-writing and featuring on Vibe with Taeyang of BigBang fame. The song was aptly named, and proved to be a great warmup for Jimins big solo release in March of 2023. This was where he proved he was ready for the deep end. Written in response to Jimins emotional struggles during the 2020 pandemic, the songs on the album titled Face explore the nuances of loneliness and struggle for self-acceptance. ARMYs know that the latter is a battle Jimin has fought for a long time, and that he has grappled with body image in the past. So as gratifying as it was to see Facetopping charts and smashing records from day one, it made us especially proud to see Jimin embrace himself through his work.
Like the other members, Jimin had material ready to tide us over following his December 2023 enlistment. In July of 2024, a second album called Muse was released. The single Who debuted at the top of both the Billboard Global 200 and the Global Excl. US chart, which was the first time one of his songs had achieved the feat. Later that summer, we also got a fun throwback to the days of Bon Voyage when Disney+ released the travel series Are You Sure?! featuring Jimin and Jungkooks wholesomely chaotic escapades.
V
If theres one member who knows how to get ARMY begging for solo music, its V. For years he has teased us with snippets of songs, most of which were still hoping to hear recorded someday. A Million Stars, anyone? What can we say? Our V is a perfectionist, and while he was continuing to refine his music, he had plenty to keep him busy. His first hiatus projects were for TV. In July 2022 he and his Wooga Squad friends filmed their four day trip for the Disney+ series In the Soop: Friendcation. Then in February 2023 he joined the reality show Jinnys Kitchen, as the restaurant intern, allowing the world to see more of his silly, infectious personality. In a tonal 180, V appeared in the music video for IUs Love Wins All in 2024. Do we want to see it developed as a full length drama series? Yes we do. Will it wreck us emotionally? Also, yes.
In September 2023, V finally released a solo album, called Layover. Infused with old school jazz, R&B, and soul, it stood out for its dreamy, lo-fi mood while also being the perfect showcase for Vs expressive voice. Layover would go on to hit major streaming numbers, eventually tying V with his groupmates Jin and Suga for the title of highest charting Korean solo artist in Billboard history. His mid-enlistment release came in March of 2024 in the form of the digital single Fri(end)s. With a beat made for swaying, its a great listen on its own, but we loved seeing Vs sense of humor shine in the accompanying music video.
Jungkook
BTS Golden Maknae cant help but live up to his nickname. His solo activities have taken him to stages all over the world, and hes rocked them all. He was typically fast off the block, releasing a collaboration with Charlie Puth in late June of 2022. Then in November he became the first Korean artist to provide an official theme for the FIFA World Cup with his song Dreamers. Jungkook kicked off 2023 becoming a brand ambassador for Calvin Klein in March, which certainly turned heads. But it was the July release of his official debut solo single, Seven, that got people gagging, especially when they heard the uncensored version- which we cant share here.
With Seven, Jungkook racked up a slew of impressive records and accolades, including an MTV VMA win for Song of Summer. In September he would go on to headline the Global Citizen Festival in New York. Finally, in November of 2023, Golden, was released. The 11 track album is a pop fans dream, filled end to end with earworms. But the thematic arc from first attraction to eventual heartbreak shows a sophisticated sensibility underneath the smooth production. It was also a commercial smash hit, acting as a shining cherry on top of a truly golden 2023 for Jungkook. If there was any doubt he was born for pop star glory, his solo successes should have swept it all away.
Yet to Come
So whats ahead for BTS? Its not uncommon for k-pop groups to fade out after military enlistment, but when our guys left it was with a promise to ARMY that they would be back as OT7. And theyve yet to make us a promise they didnt keep. After three years and a lot of personal and artistic growth from each member, its inevitable that the group will reunite with a different perspective. But thats also a pretty exciting prospect given how well BTS has always been able to organically evolve. Refreshingly for the k-pop industry, their parent company HYBE seems willing to give them a beat to navigate the start of their next chapter. So it may still be a little bit before weve got new BTS music filling up our playlists. But we can be patient. After all, we know whatevers coming, it will be worth the wait.
What BTS solo project was your hiatus life raft? Let us know in the comments!