BTS Is Back With A New K-Pop Album And More

BTS fans already have a reason to be excited about 2020. The K-pop band — which includes Jungkook, Jimin, Jin, J-Hope, SUGA, RM, and V — took to Twitter on January 7 to announce that it's releasing a new album. Map of the Soul: 7 will debut Feb. 21 and preorders start Jan. 9, per Entertainment Weekly. 

The big announcement comes just days after the group showed up to perform its hits "Make It Right" and "Boy With Luv" on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020. That appearance certainly prompted buzz about a comeback and heightened chatter about an upcoming television drama about the group and the controversial K-pop scene. Bang Si-hyuk, founder and co-CEO of Big Hit Entertainment, explained that the series won't actually feature the band members but is "based on the Bangtan [BTS] Universe" and will tell the story of "how the seven boys first met." That project is slated for release in the second half of 2020. 

While it's obvious that 2020 will be a big year for BTS, the boys definitely kept busy during their time off in 2019.

BTS may not have taken a long hiatus, but it was certainly a jam-packed break. Back in August 2019, the K-pop superstars released a statement announcing they'd be taking their first break since hitting the scene in 2013. The band (which almost had a very different stage name) released a statement on twitter about its R&R: "This period of rest will be an opportunity for the members of BTS, who have relentlessly driven themselves towards their goal since their debut, to recharge and prepare to present themselves anew as musicians and creators." The statement also added, "This will also provide them with a chance to enjoy the ordinary lives of young people in their 20s, albeit briefly."

However, according to StyleCaster, the members of BTS didn't necessarily kick back during their "time off." Instead, the group's members were apparently using their free time "to work on solo projects and 'commercial shoots and content productions.'" By September 2019, the guys may have already been back to work as a unit. They were spotted together at the Incheon International Airport — which is when fans noticed Jungkook had dyed his hair blond. That sighting was followed by a December 2019 appearance at Variety's Hitmakers brunch, where they were honored as the group of the year. 

Life as a K-pop star can be grueling and scandals run rife, so we're glad BTS got to take a breather (even though it seems like the band stayed plenty busy.) Welcome back, guys!