sabiz

It's the year of discharge and the year we meet again, ARMY.

This is what BTS member Jungkook wrote on the fan community platform Weverse on the 8th. He was referring to the full return of all members after fulfilling their military service, which will be completed on June 21 with Suga's discharge. BTS has been on a "military hiatus" since December 2023 when Jimin was the last member to enlist.

Since releasing their final team album "Proof" in June 2022, BTS has only been active through solo projects, which were already in the works. While individual activities have brought some success, excitement is growing for the group's reunion as their full return is now imminent. After the "NewJeans incident" last year, their agency, HYBE, is also looking to turn things around with the comeback of BTS, their "diamond card." Here are three key points about BTS's highly anticipated return:

1. Tour Over Full Album Release
   According to Dong-A Ilbo's investigation, BTS is likely to prioritize a tour over the immediate release of a full album. Preparing a full album with new songs takes significant time and effort, which could be a burden. After his discharge in October last year, j-hope also chose a world tour as his first move. Music critic Kim Jak-ga commented, "Touring generates significant revenue for artists, and it would be a good opportunity to celebrate the comeback with familiar hits and events."

Although a full album may not be released initially, BTS could drop new tracks in celebration of their comeback while conducting the tour. There is speculation that they may collaborate with global pop stars, much like Rosé's 2022 collaboration with Bruno Mars, or BTS's collaboration with Halsey on "Boy With Luv" in 2019.

2. Returning with a "Dark" Concept?
   Another point of interest is the concept BTS will return with after three years. Before enlistment, BTS released bright, dance tracks like "Permission to Dance" (2021) and "Dynamite" (2020). These English-language songs were instrumental in solidifying BTS's position as a global act.

However, BTS's core fanbase was built on more serious, introspective tracks. Their debut song "No More Dream" dealt with the struggles of youth, while tracks like "Fire", "Blood Sweat & Tears", and "DNA" captured the turbulent emotions of their 20s. Music critic Kim Do-heon speculated, "The songs BTS released before enlistment were more like event singles for an audience struggling through the pandemic. After discharge, there is a good chance they will return with their signature narrative of overcoming difficult times with passion and perseverance."

3. The "Drunk Driving" Controversy: A Hindrance?
   Since their debut in 2013, BTS had a spotless reputation until the drunk driving incident involving Suga in 2022. His being caught riding an electric scooter while intoxicated and fined 1.5 million won was a shocking moment for fans. This incident turned into a controversy over "lying," and opinions about the group's full return were divided.

The key factor now is the members' intentions. Whether they plan to release music under the BTS name immediately after discharge will be crucial in determining the timing of their comeback. The members had previously stated that they needed time to recharge, and HYBE has only commented that "plans for activities after discharge are being discussed closely with the members."