RM is speaking out.
The 28-year-old leader of the phenomenally popular K-pop boy band BTS opened up in an interview during an appearance on South Korean news program KBS News 9.
RM’s appearance comes just after his bandmate Jin enlisted in the Korean military. His enlistment has been a hotly contested subject for years as politicians have bee debating whether the boy band should have to fulfill the military requirements.
In his interview, RM touched on how Jin has been handling his enlistment, his solo projects, and his thoughts on BTS’ eventual comeback as a group.
He said of his first solo album, titled Indigo:
“I’m relatively more relaxed… when working with BTS, my part is one seventh, but the depth and density have become greater since I have to work alone.”
On Jin’s enlistment and sending him off:
“Jin didn’t talk much. I think he had a lot on his mind, and when we went to the [training grounds], he said like the eldest member he is, ‘I’ll be back safely. I’ll let you know how it is after experiencing it first’
…a lot has happened until now, both as a group and individually, and it feels as if a chapter has passed. It was a moment that had to come, and since it was a moment we waited for, it really felt like we were experiencing the turning of a page in [the life of] BTS.
I also have a complex mix of feelings, but I’m calm, and I think Jin is doing well at the training center, so I’m waiting [for his return’ in a calm and cool manner.”
On the eventual comeback of BTS as a full group, which is estimated to be around 2025:
“Since the military service period is 18 months, there is nothing we can physically do about it. However, there are numerous ARMY in Korea and all over the world who believe in our team.”
On the “7” tattoo all the BTS members got together:
“Our members don’t really like tattoos that much, but we all got the number ‘7’ tattooed on different body parts. It hasn’t been long. It’s been about six months. With that in mind, although we can’t reach a hasty conclusion, we will work very hard to reunite again soon and show what only we can do.”
