While currently the hottest boyband group in the world, BTS had almost broken up a few years ago. RM, Jungkook, J-Hope, Suga, Jin, V, and Jimin have been working hard together since 2013, but something happened in 2018 when they nearly called it quits.
According to reports, the group had been "mentally struggling" with their new-found global success. Suga and Jin both said that they considered breaking up the group because they started to wonder if having fame was the kind of life that would make them happy.
The boys said that they talked among themselves and weighed in on their future. The septet eventually "regathered" and put their hearts together to vow to work even harder, knowing that they have an ARMY who will always love them.
In 2020, Jungkook once again reiterated the conversation they had as a group when they were on the brink of breaking up in the documentary Break the Silence. He said that their concerns about the future were magnified because of their fame, so they had to reassess their actions and decisions to ensure that they were all on the same page.
Suga said that their life has been such a roller coaster ride because of the demands of their job. However, he's grateful that they had that reflection and re-evaluation to prepare for more unexpected things.
The Bangtan Boys, however, were set to pause on their work because of this mandatory law in South Korea. Men between the ages of 18 to 28, with some exemptions for musicians or athletes, are required to undergo military training for 21 months.
Jin said in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning in 2019 that they might heed to the call of their country and do their duty, but no one from the group wants to think about this possibility. Instead, BTS said that all they want is to focus on their work and strike while the iron is hot.
In light of their success, South Korea passed a law in late 2020 that will exempt some K-pop bands from military service because of their cultural contribution. This saved Jin from having to enlist as he turned 28 years old last year.
BTS has now been exempted because of their artistic accolades, and the country's Culture Minister has confirmed the band can continue to perform and deliver music with the original seven members for as long as they can. They do not need to prove their service to the country in the military because they've been good ambassadors for South Korea for their music.
