The announcement surprised ARMY, as their fans are known, and brought down the shares of HYBE, the group’s record company.
BTS ‘surprise announcement last week that they would be taking a break to focus on their solo projects stunned their global fan base, rocketing their label’s share price and leaving many questions about the future of supergroup K- pop. .
THE HYBEthe company behind the band, denied that the group was taking a break, a word they tried to translate the announcement made by the group on video, Tuesday the 14th. In the following days, the band members remained active in the social mediacontinuing the flow of posts, photos and assurances that the band would not break up.
Despite the immediate impacts – HYBE shares initially fell more than 25% and are yet to fully recover – a number of factors could still affect BTS’s future. Please note that the period for military enlistment of BTS’s senior members is approaching, as is the involvement of the group and its devoted fans, known as ARMY, who will continue active in social issues.
In 2020, at the height of BTS’s success, the South Korean government revised the country’s military law that requires able-bodied South Korean men to perform approximately two years of military service. The revised law allows top K-pop stars – including Jin, the oldest member of BTS – to postpone military service until they turn 30 if they have received government medals for improving the country’s cultural reputation and applied for a postponement. All BTS members meet the criteria as recipients of government medals.
“Obviously, there is an impending military enlistment so they may have thought it would be good to do something individually before it was too late which is why I think military enlistment was the most important factor,” said Lee Dong. Yeun, professor at the National University of Korea of the Arts.
There have been requests – including from the former South Korean Minister of Culture – for an exemption for BTS due to its contribution to boosting South Korea’s international reputation. But critics say such an exemption would mean folding the rules of recruitment in favor of the privileged.
Jin, 29, is expected to enlist this year unless he receives an exemption.
Military enlistment of members has always been a headache for HYBE; BTS was once responsible for 90% of the label’s profits. Currently, the group is the guarantor of 50% to 60% of the profit, according to a report by eBest Investment & Securities.
The report also noted that the rapid decline in inventories could lead to “the anticipation that activities as a whole could be uncertain after a discharge from the military.”
HYBE sought to diversify its portfolio by debuting new K-pop bands, making online games and publishing tutorials in Korean.
The most successful K-pop band to date, with hits such as Dynamite And Butter, BTS, for years, have had tremendous social media attention with each new music release. They recently performed in several sold-out shows in the United States, they became the first K-pop group to receive a Grammy nominationhas released an anthological album, trialand they channeled their global influence with a speech to the United Nations and a trip to the White House to make campaign against hate crimes against Asians.
“Once you’ve achieved success as BTS, it means there’s a constant expectation of continuing to do something that is related to what you’ve done, where you’ve been. In the latest releases of BTS, we can also see how they continually reflect on. where they were, ”said CedarBough Saeji, a professor of Korean and East Asian Studies at Pusan National University.
He said last week’s announcement signaled the band’s intention to find “where they are going without the interference of other people” and “to be able to choose their own path as artists”.
The announcement also questions the group’s social justice efforts, which include vocal support for the Black Lives Matter movement and campaigns against violence. Legions of BTS fans have embraced the causes, equaling a $ 1 million donation to Black Lives Matter after George Floyd’s death.
look inside the house
But the group faced growing questions as to why they haven’t been so outspoken about discrimination in their own country.
A major South Korean newspaper recently published a column in which the author reflected on why South Korea, despite having BTS (“the ambassador of anti-discrimination and human rights”), has fought for 15 years to pass its own law. on anti-discrimination.
The lack of an anti-discrimination law in the country has led, among others, to unfair treatment of women and foreigners. Jumin Lee, author of the book Why an anti-discrimination law?I said Associated Press that there is a dire need for an anti-discrimination law in the country.
“South Korea is essentially in the same legal situation as Jim Crow in the southern United States. Equal protection exists as a constitutional concept, but there is no implementing legislation that allows the government to force private companies to comply,” Lee said. . “This basically means, if I am a businessman, tomorrow I could put a sign on my door saying ‘no gay’, ‘no blacks’ or ‘no elderly’, and in the absence of an extraordinary intervention by the Constitution Court, there is very little the law can do to stop me. “
Lee recently expressed disappointment with the band for not talking about this important internal issue. “BTS and their management know that speaking in the US is profitable, but doing the same at home would be more problematic,” Lee tweeted after the band’s visit to Washington.
Despite this, Lee said the band’s silence is understandable, stating that BTS would be greeted with “indifference at best and hostility at worst” by politicians if they spoke out.
Some South Korean celebrities, such as singers Harisu And Ah: heardthey spoke out on sensitive issues such as the anti-discrimination law and feminism, despite the backlash.
After commenting on the sinking of the Sewol ferry in 2014, which killed 304 people in one of the worst disasters in the country, Cannes-winning actor Song Kang-ho and director Park Chan-wook were placed on the list of exceptions by the government of ousted President Park Geun-wook.hye, noted Areum Jeong, a scholar of the korean pop culture.
“So while many idols may be politically aware, they may choose not to discuss social issues,” Jeong said.
Several BTS members said during last week’s announcement that they were struggling with the group’s hits and had trouble writing new music.
“For me, it was like the BTS group was within my reach until On And Dynamitebut after Butter And Permission to danceI didn’t know what kind of band we were anymore, “said RM.” Whenever I write lyrics and songs, it really matters what kind of story and message I want to convey, but it was like it was over now. “
Source: Terra
Emily Jhon is a product and service reviewer at Gossipify, known for her honest evaluations and thorough analysis. With a background in marketing and consumer research, she offers valuable insights to readers. She has been writing for Gossipify for several years and has a degree in Marketing and Consumer Research from the University of Oxford.
