HTTP/1.1 200 OKServer: nginxContent-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8X-Powered-By: WordPress VIP Host-Header: a9130478a60e5f9135f765b23f26593bX-Content-Type-Options: nosniffX-XSS-Protection: 1x-rq: syd3 123 242 443Cache-Control: must-revalidate, max-age=296Expires: Tue, 22 Oct 2024 06:09:57 GMTDate: Tue, 22 Oct 2024 06:05:01 GMTTransfer-Encoding:  chunkedConnection: keep-aliveConnection: Transfer-EncodingSet-Cookie: nk=d4fd537ff29480321d64cc0d8815e26d; expires=Wed, 22-Oct-2025 06:05:01 GMT; domain=.theaustralian.com.au; secure; SameSite=NoneSet-Cookie: theAusShortlist=DELETEME; expires=Thu, 01-Aug-2024 12:40:38 GMT; secure; HttpOnly; SameSite=StrictStrict-Transport-Security: max-age=600 ; includeSubDomainsContent-Security-Policy-Report-Only: frame-ancestors 'self'; report-uri https://www.theaustralian.com.au/csp-reportsContent-Security-Policy: block-all-mixed-content; style-src https: 'unsafe-inline'; script-src https: blob: 'unsafe-inline' 'unsafe-eval'; img-src https: data:; frame-src https:;BlaizeHappened: trueX-ARRRG5: /blaize/decision-engine?path=https%3a%2f%2fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2fweb-stories%2ffree%2fthe-australian%2fsouth-korea-k-pop-bts-hiatus-explained%3fnk%3dd4fd537ff29480321d64cc0d8815e26d-1711775422&blaizehost=v4-news-au-theaustralian.cdn.zephr.com&content_id=&session=d4fd537ff29480321d64cc0d8815e26dX-ARRRG4: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/X-PathQS: TRUEVary: User-AgentAkamai-GRN: 0.4e4e6168.1729577099.1e342d15
BTS is taking a break from the gruelling K-pop machine
BTS, the award-winning, seven-man band, shocked fans globally after announcing they are “going on hiatus” to focus on solo pursuits.
Video: Instagram | BTS
While a representative for the band disputed the word “hiatus”, claiming the members will “remain active in different formats”,
the sudden decision has sparked speculation about the band’s true decision to take a moment out of the intense spotlight they’ve secured for years.
"hiatus"
circulating BTS’
rumours
Here are all the
K-pop fans have speculated that South Korea’s mandatory military service influenced the band’s decision. All able-bodied men aged 18 to 28 must serve for at least 18 months. 
MILITARY SERVICE 
Under the current law, only Olympic and Asian Games medallists and globally recognized, award-winning classical musicians are exempt. Jin, the oldest member of the group at 28, may begin his army service by the end of the year.
Band member RM said BTS was experiencing an identity crisis and “didn’t know what kind of group [they] were anymore”.
IDENTITY CRISIS
He expressed concern over the “K-pop” machine, the gruelling demands of the industry, which generates billions of dollars for the South Korean economy, and its impact on artists' wellbeing.
“I’ve always thought that BTS was different than other groups. But the problem with K-pop and the whole idol system is that they don’t give you time to mature.”
RM
BIGGER THAN BEN HUR
BTS contributes $5 billion to the South Korean economy annually.
That's around half a per cent of the country's entire economy.
In 2021, they topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for seven weeks.
BTS is the first international act since The Beatles to release four albums that hit number one in the US in under two years.
Video: Instagram | BTS
HALLYU, EXPLAINED
Hallyu is the term used to describe South Korea's cultural industry. After the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997, the South Korean government began leveraging the export of pop culture as a new economic initiative.
The exports have become globally popular, with the likes of Squid Game, Parasite, and the crux of the Hallyu: K-pop.
The government provided funding to conglomerates to promote films, entertainment, video games, and music, a program that has helped the South Korean economy rise to become the 12th biggest in the world.
Video: Instagram | BTS
WORDS: Geordie GrayPRODUCER: Bianca Farmakis
																		

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/web-stories/free/the-australian/south-korea-k-pop-bts-hiatus-explained