How BTS's 'hiatus' was mistranslated and what it actually means for the K-pop band

A YouTube video went viral after claims they would be focusing on solo ventures — however the announcement is not all what it seems

BTS through the years: the K-pop band at the Korean Culture Convention (K-Con), held at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on August 10, 2014. AFP

Members of BTS arrive on the red carpet for K-Con 2014. AFP

BTS on the red carpet for the Asia Artist Awards in Seoul on November 16, 2016. AFP

Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and JungKook of BTS at Music Choice in New York City on March 22, 2017. Getty

BTS perform Fake Love at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 20, 2018. AP

BTS accept the Top Social Artist award at the Billboard Music Awards on May 20, 2018. Reuters

BTS attend the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2018. AP

BTS perform during a Korean cultural event in Paris as part of the South Korean president's official visit to France on October 14, 2018. AFP

BTS on the red carpet at the Mnet Asian Music Awards in Hong Kong on December 14, 2018. AP

BTS at the Seoul Music Awards on January 15, 2019. Getty

BTS present the award for Best R&B Album during the 61st Grammy Awards on February 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. AFP

BTS perform on Saturday Night Live on April 11, 2019. Getty

BTS before rehearsals for KBS 2TV's Music Bank in Yeouido, Seoul, on April 19, 2019. Getty

BTS perform at concert to promote 18th Fina World Championships at a stadium in Gwangju, South Korea on April 28, 2019. EPA

BTS and Halsey performing Boy With Luv at the Billboard Music Awards on May 1, 2019. Reuters

BTS attend Youth Day at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul on September 19, 2020. Reuters

BTS present a purple gift box to President Moon Jae-in during the inaugural Youth Day event in Seoul on September 19, 2020. EPA

BTS on the red carpet during the annual Mama Awards at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya, Japan, on December 4, 2019. Reuters

BTS at the 34st annual Golden Disk Awards ceremony in Seoul on January 4, 2020. EPA

BTS arrive at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on January 26, 2020. AP

BTS visit the Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on February 21, 2020. AFP

BTS give an address as part of the YouTube Originals Dear Class of 2020 speeches. YouTube Originals

BTS performing as part of the YouTube Originals Dear Class of 2020 speeches. YouTube Originals

BTS perform 'Dynamite' during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2020. Reuters

BTS accept the award for Best Pop Video for 'On' during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2020. AP

BTS arrives to security check-in at the United Nations headquarters during the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 20, 2021. AFP

V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS arrive at the 2021 American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California on November 21, 2021. Reuters

BTS accepts the award for artist of the year at the American Music Awards in 2021 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. AP

Jin, Suga, V, Jungkook, RM, Jimin, and J-Hope of BTS hold their award for the Favourite Pop Song, Favourite Duo or Group and Artist of the Year awards during the 2021 American Music Awards. Reuters

BTS pose on red carpet of iHeartRadio Jingle Ball concert in California on December 3, 2021. Reuters

BTS perform at Jamsil Olympic Park in southern Seoul, South Korea on March 10, 2022. EPA

BTS pose on red carpet of 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 3, 2022. Reuters

BTS perform Butter during 64th Annual Grammy Awards show in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 3, 2022. Reuters

BTS Permission to Dance concert in Las Vegas on April 10, 2022. Photo: Big Hit Music

Members of BTS join Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, centre, during a news conference at the White House in Washington DC on May 31, 2022. Photo: Oliver Contreras / Sipa / Bloomberg

Fans of BTS were shocked when the K-pop group announced they would be taking a “hiatus” to focus on solo projects in a video that has since gone viral.

The news came just days after they released their three-album anthropology series Proof.

It sparked confusion among adoring followers, known as Army, and pandemonium from financial backers, who saw 28 per cent wiped off the record label's stock price, after the video announcement was published.

The video showed the band's seven members sitting down during their Festa Dinner, an annual fan celebration event, on Tuesday.

However, the entertainment company behind them has insisted the video had been mistranslated.

What did BTS say?

During the one-hour pre-recorded video, members RM, J-Hope, Jin, Suga, Jimin, V and Jungkook reminisced about their time together.

During the dinner, they discussed South Korea’s "idol system", where pop groups are characterised by the highly manufactured star system, and how it made it difficult for individual artists to mature and branch out on their own.

Members also questioned the identity of the group after releasing English tracks Butter and Permission to Dance.

“We have to accept that we’ve changed,” RM says as his bandmates looked on with more serious expressions. “For me, it was like the group BTS was within my grasp until On and Dynamite, but after Butter and Permission to Dance, I didn’t know what kind of group we were anymore.”

At one point, as the band begins discussing their future, Suga speaks and this is where things get tricky.

"We're going into a hiatus now. Should we talk about why we're not doing the Festa or making content?" he asks in Korean, which has been subtitled into English.

It is the word “hiatus” that, according to the band's label, has been unintentionally used in the subtitles provided by YouTube.

Scroll the gallery below to see images from BTS Permission to Dance on Stage concert in Las Vegas.

Are BTS going on a hiatus?

Hybe, the band's record label, has since told Associated Press that “BTS are not taking a hiatus. Members will be focusing more on solo projects at this time," hinting that the mistranslation has caused major confusion.

So what did the band actually say? According to Ewha Kim of the Korean Cultural Centre in Abu Dhabi, in literal translation, the words mean: “Yes, we are into off time” or “we will have off time”.

However, the word “hiatus” is the one that’s mostly been used to report about the band’s temporary break, with fans worried that this might mean the group will break up.

Since news of the impended "off time", Hybe’s stock has plummeted, with shares falling 28 per cent, reportedly losing $1.7 billion of market value in the first hour of trading on Wednesday.

Perhaps in reaction to the drop in shares, Hybe has since responded by saying that BTS want time to improve as individuals but will continue with group and solo activities, with a stronger focus on individual projects.

The band will continue Run BTS, their Korean variety show, and still have plans to appear and perform on music programmes such as Mnet Countdown and SBS Inkigayo.

Why are they taking a break?

It’s thought that the group’s announcement may be tied to the mandatory South Korean military service as some of the oldest members are nearing the deadline to complete it. Jin's 30th birthday is in December, while Suga turned 29 in March.

In 2020, an amendment was made to change the age limit that men have to complete the service from 28 to 30, however it still did not absolve the boy band from needing to complete it.

Over the last few years, there’s been mounting pressure to exempt the group members from having to complete conscription.

“It’s time to create a system for incorporating popular culture-art figures as art personnel,” said Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Hwang Hee in May, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.

Hwang said he aimed to push a new law through parliament allowing stars to serve their country outside the military.

“The [exemption] system has been operated meaningfully to give those who have enhanced the national status based on their excellent skills more chances to contribute to the country, and there is no reason the popular art-culture field should be excluded from this,” he said.

“Somebody should be a responsible voice at a time when there are conflicting pros and cons ahead of the enlistment of some of the BTS members.”

Currently exemptions and reduced terms of service are offered to top classical musicians, folk music acts and Olympic medal winners.

It is not the first time that the group has taken time off for themselves.

In 2019, BTS announced an "extended break" from music, where members would be undergoing a period of “rest and relaxation" that would "provide them with a chance to enjoy the ordinary lives of young people in their 20s, albeit briefly". It lasted around one month.

After their Permission to Dance On Stage concerts in Los Angeles last year, the members took time off to rest and get "re-inspired".

Scroll through the gallery below to see BTS at the White House.