In life, there is nothing that is immune to change. RM captures this sentiment succinctly when he raps, “things change, people change, everything change, love change, friends change, everyone change” – reaffirming that if there is one constant in life, it’s change.
For some, change is timely and welcomed. For others, it can range from a mild distraction to a rude awakening depending on the circumstances. No matter how change is experienced though, it is still an intensely personal experience. Take the sensitive matter of BTS’ military enlistment as an example. Seen as inevitable, some fans were able to embrace the impending changes, choosing to focus on the future and the day that all seven members would once again be reunited, while sharing a comforting smile or hopeful words of encouragement. However, not everyone was able to do that, as there were others who may have felt as if their entire world, that once kept them safe and secure, was caving in on them. While there is no one size fits all approach to coping with change, there are definitely ways to get through it – everyone just needs to find the way that works best for them.
Over the past decade, the seven members of BTS have experienced copious amounts of change, time and time again. They debuted as a hip-hop idol group, when in fact BTS was originally meant to be hip-hop only. With this change in direction potential members left, the vocal line joined, and the rest (as they say) is history. BTS didn’t just do well, they went on to become global superstars, or as The New Yorker stated in 2020, “one of the most popular bands in history… with a fandom bigger than Beatlemania.” In 2015, a change in style, both musically and aesthetically resulted in the creation of “I Need U,” which has been credited as being the revolutionary song that single-handedly catapulted BTS into the international spotlight.
Since then, fame and fortune have followed BTS wherever they have gone, however there have been hardships along the way as well. Even as BTS grew in popularity, so too did the barrage of online attacks. At the same time, the ARMY fandom grew, both in numbers and in their sense of loyalty and protective nature towards the BTS members. Now, in 2023, those ARMYs who were school-aged when BTS debuted, have become adults, and the seven BTS members who once did everything with a sole focus on what was best for the group, are now venturing out on their own as solo artists.
Throughout their careers, the seven members have spoken openly about how they have been impacted and influenced by change. Their tastes, personalities, artistic styles, and life-stories have all matured with time, and now, the ways in which they choose to express themselves as artists is taking the world by storm. Even today, as this blog is being written, Jimin has just become the first Korean solo artist in history to achieve #1 status on the Billboard #Hot100 and now sits comfortably alongside BTS as the only Korean artists to have achieved this, ever.
Interestingly, when BTS announced they were taking a break from group activities to pursue solo careers, the fandom was understandably shocked by this announcement. Yet, here we are, ten months later, and three of the members have now released solo albums, with two more albums (that we know of) on the way. Also, fans now know that Jin, who is away serving in the military, somehow managed to prepare multiple videos before his departure, and every month the company posts a video on behalf of Jin, full of well wishes for ARMYs.
When the BTS members said “there’s still a lot to learn, and in my life there’s still a lot to fulfill… this is only the beginning, the best is yet to come,” they weren’t only singing beautiful lyrics. In hindsight, they were weaving a tapestry of comfort, love, and hope for their fans who they knew might struggle with the changes that lay ahead, changes that only they, as BTS, were privy to at the time.
Recently though, a change of a slightly disappointing nature was raised by RM during his Weverse live stream. After scrolling through the chat, RM commented that it might be better for him to continue without looking at the comments, largely due to the amount of nonsense he was seeing. His comments launched a wave of posts on social media, many fans expressing their disappointment at what happened while also actively seeking out ways to improve commentary etiquette, such as moderating the chats. While this recent experience may have reflected badly on the ARMY fandom in general, it highlighted the fact that the fandom has grown exponentially over the years, and this, coupled with the impersonal nature of social media, makes it very difficult to regulate poor manners.
Despite that experience, RM graciously reminded fans that he continues to support them in their everyday endeavors, that he is actively working on his second album, and that following the release of that album, he will be ready to begin his military enlistment process. With these words, it seems timely to bring SUGA into the mix, especially as he recently spent time with Jimin on "Suchwita," where many insights were shared by both members. At one point though, SUGA asked Jimin the inevitable time machine question, “of all the times you’ve been through… is there a time that you’d like to go to, whether it’s the future or the past?” To this Jimin replied, “I would like to go to 2025…” Knowing all the changes and challenges that the members would have experienced by then, Jimin couldn’t help but wonder how much all of them would have changed.
Change may be overwhelming, especially if it happens unexpectedly. For BTS, it seems that change was seen as a necessary component for their continued growth and development, both as artists and as individuals. By the time all the members return from their military service, they would have experienced more of what life has to offer them, the good and the not-so-good. As such, they will be more resilient, more understanding of the world in which they live, and better prepared for the next chapter in their careers and their lives.
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Written By: Mama
Edited By: Aury
