During the group supper, Suga said, “We have to discuss about the way we’re going.”

K-pop icons BTS startled the ARMY country on Tuesday (June 14) with the bombshell announcement that they are going on an indefinite “hiatus” to enable each man time to work on separate enterprises, just days after releasing a three-disc career retrospective collection Proof.

RM, Jin, SUGA, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook casually seated around a table eating kidding about while choosing what to drink, talking about their rocket trip to fame, and playfully teasing one other roughly 20 minutes into an hour-long FESTA dinner.

“We’re going on a hiatus now,” Suga nonchalantly declared at one point in a segment that abruptly changed the tone. “Should we talk about why we aren’t doing the FESTA or creating content?” he continued.

“Should we talk about it?” RM was perplexed.

Suga said, “Yeah, we have to talk about the way we’re going.” And because Suga brought it up, RM felt free to elaborate on the rumored imminent break, which comes after the group’s unrelenting pace since its inception in 2013.

“I’m delighted we’re BTS today, gathering like this and filming stuff… what would I do if we weren’t BTS?” RM enquired. “It made me think I’m content just being with you.” I started making songs and became BTS because I wanted to spread a message to the rest of the world.” He went on to say that he wasn’t sure what he’d do once the band released “On,” the second single from their 2020 Map of the Soul: 7 album.

The band focused on recording new singles, including their No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits “Dynamite,” “Butter,” “Permission to Dance,” and “Life Goes On,” and he concluded, “the group has certainly evolved.”

“We have to recognize that we’ve changed,” RM stated, his bandmates’ expressions more solemn than they had been before in the celebration supper. “Until ‘On’ and ‘Dynamite,’ I felt like BTS was within my grasp, but after ‘Butter’ and ‘Permission to Dance,’ I had no idea what kind of group we were. “But it seemed like it was gone now,” he added, adding that when he writes lyrics and songs, the story and message he wants to express is very important to him. I’m not sure what kind of story I should tell at this point.

RM, 27, believes BTS is unique among other groups, but that the “issue” with K-pop and the idol culture is that “they don’t give you time to mature.” You must continue to create music and do something.” He talked about getting up in the morning, having his makeup done, and feeling like he didn’t have time to grow.

“And it’s not just about music and job,” he continued, saying that he has evolved “as a human” during the last decade. “So I’ll need to think and get some alone time before those ideas can blossom into something truly distinctive… I’m no longer able to mature physically.” He stated that he feels he should be contributing more to the world right now, but he is unsure what that is, so he simply needs some time to reflect on who he is and what he wants BTS to be.

“It’s somehow become my duty to be a rapping machine and remix music and speak in English for the group,” he remarked, furrowing his brow. While praising his bandmates’ outstanding performance abilities, RM admitted that he felt “locked inside myself.” He continued wanted to take off the mantle and reveal his actual self, but the BTS machine kept churning out more goods as the members became “more weary.”

He stated that he still looks forward to dancing and rehearsing with the rest of BTS, and that when they reunite, they would perform spectacularly. “However, we’ve lost our way right now, and I just want to think about it,” he explained.

“We can’t help but think of our fans no matter what – we want to be the kind of musicians that are remembered by our fans,” Jimin, 26, said. I believe we’re now starting to consider what kind of artists we want to be recognized as by our fans. That’s probably why we’re going through a hard period right now; we’re trying to figure out who we are.”

Suga, 29, stated that writing songs has been the “hardest thing” recently, adding that “we need something to say… you can’t force it.” I have to say something that I genuinely feel, but I’m just squeezing it out right now because we have to fulfill people’s wants and the listeners… it’s excruciating.”

They also took a “long period of rest” at the end of 2021, which their management business said was to allow them to “re-inspired and replenish with creative energy,” according to a statement. Over the course of the group’s career, all seven members have issued solo albums, and during the dinner, they all stated that they are in the process of making solo albums. When J-Hope plays solo at Lollapalooza next month, he will appear to be the first out of the solo gate.