BTS Disbanding: Why It's Still Inevitable After 2018 MAMA Shocking Revelation

BTS' disbandment may not be happening this year, but it may still be possible for the K-pop group.

BTS won big at last night's 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) in Hong Kong, taking home two of the three grand prizes. RM (Kim Namjoon), Jin (Kim Seokjin), Suga (Min Yoongi), J-Hope (Jung Hoseok), Jimin (Park Jimin), V (Kim Taehyung) and Jungkook (Jeon Jeongguk) received the trophies for Album of the Year (for "Love Yourself: Tear") and Artist of the Year. They have three in total from the 2018 MAMA week, having won Worldwide Icon of the Year at the Dec. 12 ceremony held in Japan.

When the group received the award for Album of the Year, leader RM gave a special shout-out to producer Bang Shihyuk, who formed BTS, along with his company, BigHit Entertainment. The BTS rapper and songwriter opened up about how Bang believed in them when they were still struggling to debut and make ends meet and that he gave them a chance to realize their dream.

However, it was during BTS' acceptance speech for Artist of the Year that tears really fell for their fans, the ARMY, and viewers around the world. J-Hope got emotional as he talked about how nervous he was before going up the stage and touched on the hardships they went through to get where they are. BTS' V also broke down in tears as he thanked all of their parents.

The last member to speak was Jin, who was already in tears before he began his speech. He made the shocking revelation that he and the rest of BTS had been contemplating on disbanding earlier this year despite being at the peak of their career. He ended his speech by saying that fortunately, BTS had found their resolve again, and thus will continue on as a seven-member group.

And it seems a BTS disbandment really isn't on the horizon as the group announced in October that they have renewed their contracts with BigHit, according to Billboard. Their contracts, which were originally set to expire next year, have been extended for another seven years.

However, fans shouldn't get too confident that this means BTS will stay together forever, or even for the next seven years. History shows that K-pop groups could disband or lose members even at the peak of their careers, like in the cases of Miss A, 2NE1, Sistar, DBSK and Super Junior. Some members of BTS could choose to pursue their own careers, break away from the company due to legal concerns, or simply retire while they are still on a high rather than wait for their careers to lose steam.

BTS' members will also inevitably enter the army within the next few years for mandatory service. And it is rare for a K-pop group to remain intact and at the top with the two-year gap in promotions entering the military would force upon them.

It's also possible that BTS may disband due to the pressure and difficulties that come with being a Korean idol group. Like what they hinted at during their 2018 MAMA speeches, all the fame and pressure to produce one award-winning album after another must be getting to them, and they might eventually feel that it has all become too much.

Of course, BTS could also be the one group after Shinhwa who would stick together even in 20 years and after their two-year mandatory army service. But either way, BTS' fans are here to stay, as proven by the numerous pledges of eternal love and support from ARMY.