At the peak of their success, K-pop megastars BTS are taking a break from the supergroup to focus on their solo careers. Here's a look back at the band's record-setting run to global superstardom
At the peak of their success, K-pop megastars BTS made an emotional announcement to fans: they were taking a break from the supergroup to focus on their solo careers.
The bombshell announcement late Tuesday night sent shockwaves through the septet's global fanbase, and caused the share price of their label HYBE to plunge, even as it pushed back, saying the bandmates would still work together.
AFP takes a look back at the band's record-setting run to global superstardom:
The members—J-Hope, Jimin, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Suga and V—are selected through a combination of recruitment and auditions, and undergo intensive training before the group's launch.
They become the first K-pop act to perform on the televised American Music Awards.
In May 2018, the band led the Billboard 200—which rank albums via sales, downloads and streams—with their album "Love yourself: Tear".
Addressing a packed hall at the launch of a UNICEF youth campaign, group leader RM urges youth to "just speak yourself" regardless of their race, gender or identity.
The milestone comes ahead of the group's two sold-out shows at London's famed Wembley Stadium.
But the band is back within weeks, with a tour that included a show in Saudi Arabia.
The achievement comes hours after BTS beat American musical heavyweights including Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift to score the Best Pop award at MTV Video Music Awards.
The group goes on to top the US singles chart repeatedly with other songs including "Butter" and "Permission to Dance".
The group is nominated for best performance by a pop duo or group for its English-language hit "Dynamite", but fails to win.
BTS is nominated again in 2021, but after being disappointed, Suga says: "I'm thankful there are still barriers and challenges we can try to work to overcome."
The septet also scoops awards for Favourite Pop Duo or Group and Favourite Pop Song for their hit "Butter" at the glitzy ceremony is Los Angeles.
The win marks the band's ninth AMA.
The band are quickly performing again, with a sold-out series of concerts in Seoul in March 2022, their first post-pandemic performances in their native land.
The group uses the trip to call out growing anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States.
Speaking to fans in a YouTube video marking the band's ninth anniversary, the members say they are "exhausted" and need time apart.
Their label HYBE pushes back, saying BTS will be doing "team and individual projects simultaneously".