The president of the Korea Singers Association (KSA) and former college classmate of BTS’ Jin urged the Grammy-nominated K-pop group not to pursue their decision to take a break group activities to focus on solo careers.
Singer Lee Ja-yeon, 63, the seventh president of KSA, issued a statement on June 22 to say that BTS’ decision will have an effect on the popularity of Hallyu or Korean Wave.
"I'm concerned that the Korean wave centering around BTS, which has the strongest cultural soft power in Korea and the world, may fade away ... Like a 'second Beatles' won't arrive easily, it is unlikely for there to be a 'second BTS,' so I'm worried that Hallyu may be cut," she said, the Korea Times reported.
She added, "You may have made the decision after deep deliberation, but would you reconsider (a withdrawal of the decision) for the sake of Korea's music industry?"
In a video uploaded on YouTube last June 14, BTS members cried as they announced that they will take a break from group activities to focus on their solo endeavors.
“So I needed to think and have some alone time and then those thoughts can mature into something uniquely mine. I could balance this with work before but after ten years of living as BTS and working all our schedules, I can’t physically mature anymore. There was something I wanted to do in this world and right now when we’re at our best,” said RM.
J-Hope said, “But now I don’t know, I’ve talked a lot about this with the members but I think we should spend some time apart to learn how to be one again. I think that timing is really important right now.”
Suga said, “It’s not that we’re disbanding. We’re just living apart for a while.”
In a statement sent to Manila Bulletin on June 15, Big Hit Music stated that “to be clear, they are not on hiatus but will take time to explore some solo projects at this time and remain active in various different formats."
According to Lee, “When BTS disappears, so do the Korean Wave crusaders of ARMY. And neither Hallyu tourism nor a cultural powerhouse can be expected. Popular culture and arts should be included in the military service exemptions applied to sports, and culture and art contests.”
She added, “There is an urgent need for a lot of attention and discussion to solve the current situation. We sincerely ask the National Assembly and the government to pay keen attention to the continuous spread of the Korean Wave and to actively consider revising the Military Service Act so that BTS can continue to work."
Lee revealed in an interview on a radio program on Korean station MBC in October 2021 that she and Jin were once classmates in college before his debut in BTS.
BTS’ Jin, now 29, attended Konkuk University from 2011 to 2017. On the other hand, Lee entered college late and said they were classmates in the Film Department. She took the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) in Korea in 2010.
She said they ate and drank tea as his "noona," or sister. After she became the president of KSA in 2018, BTS received the Order of Cultural Merit. They met at the occasion, she said.