This year marks BTS’s 13th year since their debut in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment (now HYBE’s BIGHIT MUSIC). At the 2026 Melon Music Awards (MMA), held in South Korea on November 14 and 15, the 13-year-old group swept six awards, including two Daesang (Grand Prizes): Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for ARIRANG. Before this, BTS had already made history at the awards ceremony as the group with the most wins.
Since returning to group activities in April this year, BTS have continued to expand their impressive list of achievements, earning numerous accolades and major awards both in South Korea and internationally, despite a three-year interruption caused by mandatory military service. The superstars have once again reminded the world of their enduring strength and unparalleled influence.
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. He 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, 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.
