On November 18, an article titled “BTS = The Foundation of HYBE” Jin’s Return to End NewJeans Controversy, Optimism for BTS Full Group Comeback” was published by a Korean news site.
This article mentioned that HYBE recently faced significant turbulence due to controversies surrounding NewJeans, but Jin’s return has provided much-needed optimism for the conglomerate.
It also stated that Jin’s momentum will likely continue with other BTS members, who are set to release their own solo projects.
Some say that BTS’s full group comeback has been delayed after Hybe’s Chief Financial Officer Lee Kyung-joon said, “We are still discussing 2026 activities with the members, but no projection has been made yet” when asked, “How much do you expect BTS’s sales contribution to be in 2026?” during Hybe’s third quarter earnings conference call. However insiders report that all members are aiming to begin preparations once they complete their military service, especially as they had promised fans a comeback in the second half of 2025. Plans for a new world tour in 2026 are also reportedly underway.
Additionally, during his recent fan showcase, Jin hinted at the group’s return, saying, “We’ve experienced immense happiness in life. Just when we thought it was the end, even greater happiness awaited us. If you wait, I believe happiness will find you again.”
Commenting on BTS’s potential return, the article wrote that this may end the NewJeans controversy that has troubled the company.
However, many Korean netizens show negative responses, leaving comments such as, “Weren’t they trying to erase BTS not long ago?”, “What the hell is that title?”, “Leave NewJeans out of it”, and “Can they please stop using the artists as a shield” popping up on Korean forums like “theqoo”.
