Before BTS's Spring 2026 Comeback: What Each Member Discovered About Themselves During the Solo Era
Okay, let's be real—when BTS announced they were taking time for solo projects and military service, a lot of us panicked. Two years without OT7? How were we supposed to survive?
But here's the thing: that time apart turned out to be exactly what they needed. As we gear up for their full-group comeback in Spring 2026, it's wild to look back and see just how much each member grew during their solo era. They didn't just release albums—they discovered who they are as individual artists, and honestly? It makes their reunion even more meaningful.
Let's talk about what each of our seven found out about themselves.
๐RM: The Overthinking Leader Learns to Let Go
We all know Namjoon as the guy with an IQ of 148 who reads philosophy books for fun and always has the perfect thing to say. But his solo work? That showed us a different side.
His 2024 album "Right Place, Wrong Person" was messy in the best way possible. It had this raw, alternative rock energy that felt like Namjoon finally stopped trying to have all the answers. He's always been introspective, but this time he was like, "You know what? I'm confused too, and that's okay."
The whole album wrestled with those big questions we all deal with—Who am I? Where do I belong? What's the point?—but instead of intellectualizing everything to death, he just... felt it. And let us feel it with him.
For those of us who've watched him translate and explain and lead for years, seeing him embrace uncertainty was refreshing. Turns out the philosopher doesn't need to have it all figured out either.
๐Jin: Our Funny Guy Has Serious Talent
Can we talk about how Jin has been criminally underrated? Like, yes, he's gorgeous and hilarious and gives us the best dad jokes, but "The Astronaut" and his other releases proved he's so much more than BTS's visual.
Working with Coldplay was huge, but what really got me was how he embraced this softer, more emotional sound. Jin has always hidden behind humor (we see you, Seokjin), but his solo work let him be genuinely vulnerable.
And his vocals? They matured SO much. He learned how to carry a song entirely on his own, how to connect with an audience without seven members backing him up. The confidence he gained is incredible, and I have a feeling he's done being underestimated.
๐SUGA: Finally Finding Peace
Min Yoongi has always been the one pouring his pain into his music, and "D-Day" felt like the conclusion of that chapter. The Agust D trilogy was his way of working through trauma, anger, and everything he'd been carrying since his pre-debut days.
But "D-Day" was different. It wasn't just rage—it was closure. You could hear him making peace with his past, and his world tour proved he didn't need BTS's name to pack arenas. (That Halsey and Anderson .Paak collab? Chef's kiss.)
What SUGA discovered is that he could let go. He didn't have to be angry forever. And the person coming back to BTS is someone who's done the hard work of healing and is ready to create from a totally different place.
๐J-Hope: Sunshine Has a Shadow
"Jack in the Box" was NOT what we expected from Hobi, and that's exactly why it was brilliant. Our resident sunshine went full emo, and honestly? We needed to see it.
The album was dark, experimental, and brutally honest about the pressure of always being the happy one. J-Hope learned that he doesn't have to perform joy 24/7. He can be complicated. He can be moody. He can make weird, avant-garde music that makes you go, "Wait, what?"
And then he went and headlined Lollapalooza like it was nothing. Watching him command that stage solo was a revelation—we always knew he was an incredible dancer, but seeing him as a solo performer on that scale? Different level.
He's bringing back both the sunshine AND the shadow, and BTS's music is going to be so much richer for it.
๐Jimin: Learning to Be Kind to Himself
Jimin has always been his own worst enemy, and watching his solo journey was like watching someone finally learn self-compassion. "Face" was ROUGH—in the best way. He really put all his pandemic anxiety, identity crisis, and self-doubt into that album.
But then "Muse" came along and showed us someone who'd done the work. He wasn't trying to be perfect anymore. "Like Crazy" became this anthem for everyone who's ever felt lost, and seeing Jimin be so open about his struggles made all of us feel less alone.
What he discovered is that we don't love him because he's perfect. We love him because he's real. And that vulnerability? That's his superpower.
๐V: The Artiste Does Whatever He Wants
Taehyung has always marched to the beat of his own drum, and "Layover" was the most Taehyung thing ever. Jazzy, retro, aesthetically perfect, and completely unconcerned with what anyone else was doing.
The whole album felt like he finally got to create exactly what he wanted without compromise. His deep voice found its perfect home in R&B and jazz, and everything from the music videos to the styling screamed "I know who I am."
V learned that his art doesn't need explanation. It can just exist, beautifully and unapologetically, and the right people will get it. (And if they don't? That's fine too.)
๐Jungkook: The Maknae Becomes a Solo Superstar
JK really said "I'm going to be a global pop star" and then just... did it. "Golden" was exactly what it sounds like—a full-blown pop album with major Western collabs and chart-topping hits.
Some fans were surprised by how mainstream it was, but here's what Jungkook discovered: he WANTS that. He wants to perform at the Super Bowl. He wants his songs on American radio. He wants the whole world to know his name—not just as BTS's golden maknae, but as Jungkook.
Watching him own that ambition was incredible. He did the Calvin Klein campaign, dominated the charts, and proved he could be the main character. And he's only 27.
๐So What Does This Mean for the Comeback?
Here's what makes me so excited about BTS coming back: they're choosing this. They each had a taste of solo success. They know they can make it on their own. And they're still coming back together because being BTS means something bigger.
Think about what they're bringing back to the group:
- RM's willingness to embrace chaos
- Jin's newfound confidence
- SUGA's hard-won peace
- J-Hope's embrace of duality
- Jimin's self-compassion
- V's uncompromising artistic vision
- Jungkook's global star power
They're not the same seven guys who announced their hiatus. They're seven fully realized artists who've figured out who they are individually. And THAT'S what's going to make their next chapter so special.
The solo era wasn't a break from BTS—it was preparation for what comes next. They had to find themselves separately before they could rediscover what makes them unstoppable together.
Spring 2026 can't come fast enough. Welcome back, boys. We've been waiting, and we're ready for whatever you've got.
Ready to cry over new BTS music? Same. Follow us for all the comeback updates, tour news, and the inevitable emotional breakdowns when the first teaser drops.