KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — K-Pop boyband BTS member, Kim Seok-jin or better known as Jin, will be the next from the group to release a solo project post announcements of a group hiatus in June.
Coming after the July release of J-Hope's Jack in The Box, fans were thrilled when he made his announcement yesterday after BTS' free Yet To Come concert at the Asiad Stadium in Busan to help Korea's bid to host the World Expo 2030.
Some 55,000 had thronged the venue, with many camping outside the venue, braving the chilly weather wrapped in blankets, reported Billboard.
The surprise announcement by Jin which came towards the end of 90-minute show,` set fans off in a frenzy amidst uncertainty of the band's future after it had earlier announced in June the band would go on hiatus for members to pursue solo projects.
“Lastly, I have something to tell you... I’ve ended up becoming the second after J-Hope to release my own album," said Jin.
"It’s not a huge album or anything, it’s just a single.
“I was able to work together with someone that I’d always really liked, so I’ll be releasing a new song. I’ve filmed a lot different things recently, and there’s still a lot left to film, so I hope you’ll enjoy all of it.”
Jin, 29, the group’s eldest member is expected to join mandatory military service early next year, amidst proposed amendments to the Military Service Act currently pending in the National Assembly.
Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Park Bo Kyun had announced on October 5 that BTS’s military service will be decided by December of this year.
In 2018, South Korea had passed a revision of the Military Service Act that allowed K-Pop stars to postpone their duties until they turn 30.
Addressing uncertainties, band leader RM addressed fans saying the group hoped that fans would continue trusting them.
“No matter what happens in front of us/in the future, the hearts of the seven BTS members are the same, and if all of you believe in us, we will continue and happily make music, so please have faith,” said the rapper whose real name is Kim Nam-joon.
Jin recently contributed Yours contributed drama series Jirisan, adding on to his list of solo efforts, which includes Tonight (2019), Abyss (2020) and Super Tuna (2021) which was released on his 29th birthday.
