HYBE Shares Climb Ahead of BTS’s Complete Service Return
BTS is finally wrapping up their military hiatus, with four members returning to civilian life this week. RM and V will be discharged on June 10, followed by Jimin and Jungkook on June 11. These four all enlisted together back in December 2023—RM served in the 15th Infantry Division military band, V joined the 2nd Corps Special Duty Team, and both Jimin and Jungkook served in the 5th Infantry Division. With SUGA expected to finish his social service agent duty by June 21, the group’s military break will officially be over.
The eldest member, Jin, who was the first to enlist in December 2022, already returned in June 2023 and helped fill the group’s gap during that time. J-Hope enlisted in March 2023 but was discharged early in October and has since been focusing on his solo career. While BTS once faced a lot of debate over potential military exemptions, they’ve now completed their service fully, living up to their “bulletproof” title.
BigHit Music, BTS’s agency, has asked fans to avoid visiting the military bases on discharge days. Announced through a Weverse post on June 7, the agency explained that no official events are planned and emphasized safety concerns:
“Military bases are crowded on discharge days, posing safety concerns due to limited space” BigHit Music
Instead of meeting in person, BTS members will connect with ARMY through live broadcasts timed with their individual discharge days. This week is shaping up to be action-packed for fans, especially with BTS FESTA celebrating the group’s 12th anniversary on June 13. This year is extra meaningful since all members except SUGA will now be enjoying it as civilians for the first time since enlistments started.
TRENDINGThe main offline FESTA event will be held at KINTEX in Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang, on June 13 and 14. Fans can explore over 20 exhibition booths highlighting BTS’s journey from debut to present, including a voice zone area, a trophy display honoring BTS and ARMY accomplishments, and showcases of personal items from each member.
At the same time, J-Hope’s solo stadium concert, Hope on the Stage, will run at Goyang Sports Complex. This marks the first Korean solo stadium show by a BTS member and stands as both a celebration of J-Hope’s solo achievements and a symbol of new beginnings for the group. Recently discharged members are expected to attend and show support.
The group’s global influence hasn’t slowed down either. Jin’s second mini-album, The Astronaut, hit No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and the title track "Don’t Say You Love Me" landed at No. 90 on the Hot 100. RM also earned “Favorite K-Pop Artist” at the American Music Awards in May, thanks to his solo album Right Place, Wrong Person released last year.
Looking ahead, there’s a lot of buzz around their post-military musical plans. Jin dropped his solo album just four months after returning, and J-Hope released a solo single five months after his discharge. This pacing fuels optimism that BTS might release new group music later this year. However, industry insiders expect the members to take their time reorienting their musical style before jumping straight back in.
Pop culture critic Kim Heon-sik shared this perspective:
“BTS strengthened their synergy even during their military hiatus, and their fandom remains robust. After a brief reorganization period, they’ll likely return as a full unit”
Meanwhile, HYBE’s stock has been climbing steadily despite recent controversies involving the company’s founder, Bang Si Hyuk, and allegations of fraudulent trading around the IPO. As of June 5, HYBE shares were near a year-high of 284,500 KRW, close to the 292,500 KRW peak.
Still, some voices in the industry say BTS may need to rethink their musical direction to maintain their massive success. A K-pop insider commented:
“BTS has evolved into a global pop act, but in doing so, they’ve lost much of the raw, hip-hop energy that defined their early years. While their solo works retain strong messages, a reset of the group’s musical identity may be needed for long-term success.”
With discharge days close and several exciting events lined up, the end of BTS’s military hiatus promises a busy and pivotal time both for the group and their fans around the world.