Already well-known and successful internationally, BTS captured the hearts and minds of the public in 2020 with the release of “Dynamite.” This vibrant, fun-loving, all-English tune not only won multiple music awards and reached the top of the Billboard charts but also made BTS a household name in the United States and Europe. They would only continue to stretch their influence into the Western mainstream as well.

With follow-up tunes like "Butter," "Permission to Dance," and their 2021 collaboration with Coldplay, "My Universe," BTS cemented themselves as a music and cultural icon unlike any seen since The Beatles. However, almost as quickly as they broke into the Western mainstream, they went on hiatus at the peak of their popularity, with few details about when they would return. Here's everything we know about their highly anticipated comeback.

Why BTS Went On Hiatus

They Have To Complete Required Military Service

In the summer of 2022, nearly two years after the release of "Dynamite," BTS was ubiquitous. The year began with a series of sold-out concerts, which, according to Billboard, made the band one of the highest-grossing touring acts since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. This success was followed in the spring by BTS setting Guinness World Records for social media followers. By April, the group was in contention for a Grammy Award, and just a few weeks later, they made an unprecedented trip to the White House. By all s, the group's growth potential seemed limitless.

On June 14, 2022, at the peak of its popularity, the group announced an indefinite hiatus. This decision allowed its seven to pursue personal music projects and fulfill their mandatory military service. The news came as a shock to BTS's fan base, particularly those outside South Korea. Indeed, for nearly two years, the group had maintained a constant public presence, making the sudden halt in collective activities unsettling. Moreover, uncertainty loomed over the group's potential reunion, leaving fans with the worst possible news.

The idea of musical groups taking a break to allow to pursue personal interests is nothing new to Western music fans, but it often carries ominous implications. Indeed, “taking a break” is sometimes considered a euphemism for disbandment. However, this is not the case with BTS. Since the group’s formation in 2010, a hiatus has been inevitable. Under South Korea’s Military Service Act, every able-bodied Korean male must serve in one of the nation’s military branches for 18 to 21 months between the ages of 18 and 28.

While public figures can temporarily defer their enlistment, nearly every able-bodied Korean man since 1957 has completed this societal requirement. So, a more accurate way to describe BTS’s hiatus would be that it is a temporary pause in group activities due to mandatory military service. Depending on when each member completes their service, they will be able to focus on individual projects until all subject to the military service requirement have fulfilled their obligations and can reunite as a group.

Which BTS Are On Military Service

Some Have Already Finished

Since all seven of BTS are able-bodied South Korean males, they are all required to complete their military service. However, due to differences in age among the group , as well as societal factors, the timing of each member's enlistment and the length of their service varies. According to the K-Pop fan website K-Pop Database, all BTS have already ed the military.

What BTS Have Revealed About Their Reunion

They're Excited To Be Back Together

After announcing their hiatus, each BTS member followed through on their plans to pursue personal projects. With their enlistments staggered, there was no clear timeline for when they would all be free of their obligations. Each member took advantage of the time between the hiatus announcement and their enlistment to release a solo album that reflected their individual styles. Although there is no official date for a reunion, they all seem eager to come together, create music, and "light it up like dynamite" once again.

Indeed, in a recent interview with Weverse Magazine, J–Hope - who since being discharged has been hard at work writing and producing music while also exploring the world of acting - spoke extensively about his desire to reunite with his bandmates after they complete their military service. He is particularly excited about the fresh energy and new creative influences each member will bring to BTS. He shared:

There are certainly things we need to do as BTS. When we’re all back together as a group, it’s going to have a huge impact, and everybody’s going to be watching. I’m excited to see what it’ll feel like when we perform together again.

Similarly, as reported by The Economic Times last month, Jimin, in an open letter to his fans about his life as a soldier, writes about how he and Jungkook —who he's been paired with in the same army unit— discuss their eventual reunion with the others and what they need to do to prepare for their return after being away from the music scene for so long.

My determination to give you the best stage possible, for all of you who have waited for us, has not wavered. I’ll prepare diligently, truly… I’ll do my best to return in a really good state.

Meanwhile, RM —who completed two solo albums and filmed a documentary before enlisting— reveals in People Magazine’s review of his film that, despite branching out on his own, he has never stopped thinking about BTS and what comes next for them when they reunite.

When these thoughts are considered together, a BTS reunion feels not only inevitable, but also imminent, with the seemingly eager to reunite sooner rather than later—likely in the second half of 2025, after Jimin and Jungkook are discharged. This timing makes sense, too. The group has been connected for over a decade — a journey that saw them rise from "unknowns" to global cultural icons — and they’re still young, with plenty of time for BTS’s second act.