With only a few weeks left until BTS officially celebrates its 13th debut anniversary through two highly anticipated grand-scale concerts in Busan, the group has once again reminded the world of its unmatched longevity and influence. Ahead of this milestone marking more than a decade of activity, BTS further expanded its mαѕѕive trophy collection by sweeping three awards at the αмєяι¢αn Music Awards 2026, including one of the ceremony’s three grand prizes — Artist Of The Year. Not only has BTS maintained its complete lineup, but the group has also continued to achieve extraordinary success throughout the past decade despite a three-year interruption caused by mandatory military service.
BTS has essentially defied the infamous “K-pop ¢υяѕє,” also known as “7 Year ¢υяѕє,” that has long haunted the K-pop industry! This term describes the phenomenon in which idol groups often disband or undergo lineup changes after a certain period of activity, especially around seven years after debut. Many famous groups such as 2NE1, Miss A, SISTAR, Infinite, and BEAST — as well as even many third- and fourth-generation groups in recent years — were unable to maintain their original debut lineups.
Over time, the seven-year mark has become almost like a superstition in K-pop, soмєтнing both fans and idols are highly aware of. In reality, however, most groups struggle to maintain their original lineup after seven years for practical reasons rather than superstition. Standard idol contracts with кσяєαn entertainment agencies typically last seven years, and once they expire, many groups fail to renew with all members due to agency conflicts, personal pressures, disagreements, or differences in popularity.
For BTS, to become the only K-pop group to fully reunite after a long hiatus and still maintain its original lineup after 13 years, they clearly has their own secret. And Jin generously revealed that secret during a conversation with rapper Lee Young Ji, giving fans a direct glimpse into how BTS operates behind the scenes!
Specifically, Jin explained that the secret to BTS maintaining its lineup is actually nothing extraordinary — it simply comes down to directly addressing the core issue that often leads to group breakups: the lack of unity among members. Jin shared, "One of the reasons why we are so successful is that each of the members concedes what he wants to do for the other members."
He also emphasized the importance of prioritizing the interests of the majority over the wishes of the minority. Jin implied that so-called “celebrity syndrome” is the real danger, but BTS has worked hard to avoid it because they understand how easily it can destroy group harmony. In addition, Jin mentioned that all seven members are careful not to do anything that could hurt one another. He also expressed gratitude that they all share the same goal, which makes the group’s musical and promotional plans much more achievable.
In his own words: "It’s hard to maintain a team if there is a person who wants to do whatever he wants as he thinks he is successful. However, each one of us does not cross the line and concedes what he wants to do for the other members. I think that’s why we can maintain our team".
All of us have our own ego, and in a high-pressure environment like K-pop, that ego can easily grow larger. But as Jin pointed out, the important thing to remember is that you debut as a group, not as a solo artist!
When you are alone, you can do whatever it takes to achieve personal success. But when you are part of a group, if you want that group to thrive and last, collective interests must come first. If you only pursue your own desires without caring about the survival of the team, then what was the point of debuting in a group in the first place?
Jin’s remarks also brought back a similar statement once shared by RM in an international interview about how the BTS members work together. At the time, RM said: “All seven of us are different, you know. We're really incredibly different. … I describe it: it’s like we're all sailing in the same boat but looking at different places. We have different dispositions, we're good and bad at different things, … but because we're in this team, … we’re achieving things together under the name of BTS that we couldn’t do otherwise.”
Over the years, the BTS members have not only understood the core value of collective strength but have also used it as a guiding principle to strengthen both their friendship and the group’s future. This has been proven time and time again throughout BTS’s journey. Back in 2018, the group even considered disbanding due to overwhelming pressure, but after sitting down and discussing things together, they ultimately decided to continue and overcome those hardships as a team.
Another example came as BTS prepared for its comeback in spring 2026, when RM admitted that disbandment had crossed the members’ minds before: “We’ve thought tens of thousands of times, ‘Should we disband or quit on the team?’” However, he added: “The reason we’ve kept the group together until now is the love between members, and so much love and respect for you guys. I love you all. I hope you understand that.”
At the same time, RM’s words also showed that ARMY is another crucial force at the core of BTS’s unity, helping the group overcome the “¢υяѕє” that has affected many other idol groups and fandoms. RM reaffirmed the fans’ role once again in a comeback trailer when he said: “We promised our fans that we'd be back,” and “Seven together, we can do anything. Keep swimming.”
In the end, no ¢υяѕє is truly unbeatable! BTS did not rely on luck or superstition — unity, collective determination, and ARMY became both the group’s shield and its greatest source of strength, helping them overcome every obstacle on their path toward lasting success and eternity!
