News regarding the post-military service activity plans of the group BTS has captured fans’ attention. BigHit Music, BTS’s agency, stated through Ten Asia on November 7, “We are in close discussions with the artists regarding BTS’s activities post-discharge,” and assured, “Once specific plans are finalized, we will inform the fans at an appropriate time.”
This announcement is related to a statement made during HYBE’s 2024 third-quarter earnings report conference call about a ‘BTS complete group in 2026’. At the time, HYBE’s CFO, Lee Kyung-jun, mentioned in response to questions about world tours and revenue distribution, “We are discussing activities with the members for 2026.” This led to speculation that BTS might begin their complete group activities in 2026 instead of 2025. However, this was a response based on a question that assumed 2026, so there could be room for misunderstanding.
With all members expected to be discharged by June 2025, there is a growing expectation that it may be challenging for the group to immediately resume full group activities upon their return. CFO Lee Kyung-jun analyzed, “If complete group activities begin, BTS’s revenue proportion will be high, but the growth of other artists will accompany it, so it won’t occupy an absolute proportion as in the past.”
HYBE announced last September that they had completed the renewal of exclusive contracts for all seven BTS members, marking the second renewal. Currently, Jin and j-hope have completed their military service and are discharged, and all members are expected to complete their discharge by June next year. HYBE expressed hope for BTS’s complete group return in the second half of 2025.
Meanwhile, HYBE’s operating profit for the third quarter of 2024 was 54.2 billion won, a 25.4% decrease from the same period last year, and sales decreased by 1.9% to 527.8 billion won. Net income decreased by 98.6% to 1.4 billion won. Fans are eagerly anticipating how additional news regarding BTS’s activities post-discharge will unfold.
