Amid a whirlwind global tour that has seen them sell out venues throughout North America, Europe and Asia and make history on multiple occasions, the seven members of South Korean boy band BTS have renewed their contracts with Big Hit Entertainment.
In a statement from Big Hit, the company announced that BTS’s members –RM (Kim Namjoon), Jin (Kim Seokjin), Suga (Min Yoongi), J-Hope (Jung Hoseok), Park Jimin, V (Kim Taehyung) and Jeon Jungkook– have re-signed with the company they were formed under for another seven years. The renewal news comes ahead of their current contracts’ expiration next year and will extend the band’s contracts with Big Hit from that point through 2026.
BTS was formed by Big Hit Entertainment and put out their first album 2 Cool 4 Skool in 2013.
“With Big Hit Entertainment’s support, we’ll continue to strive to give our best for fans all around the world,” said BTS in a statement, through which they also expressed respect for their mentor and Big Hit founder Bang Si-hyuk for showing them “a vision for our future form even before debut” and helping them “from our perspective of the world and music.”
The company also announced that it will create a team dedicated around BTS that will “provide systematic support and investment” into the act and its career. “It is our philosophy that we should cater the best to artists who’s achieving an unprecedented global success,” said Big Hit. The seven-year contract renewal announcement was made through an email sent to all Big Hit employees and shareholders.
While extensive in length, the number seven is one of good-fortune for BTS. Not only is it the amount of members in the group, seven has also come to represent several other career milestones, most notably last year’s Love Yourself: Her breaking into the Billboard 200 albums chart’s Top 10 at No. 7; it preceded the succeeding two albums of the Love Yourself series hitting No. 1 this year. The lengthy timespan also allows for the group to remain together through impending hiatuses from the mandatory military service South Korean men are required to fulfill. Currently, all able-bodied men in the country are expected to serve a period of around two years, and a recent law change reportedly dropped the maximum age of enlistment to 28. BTS’ oldest member Jin is currently 25-years-old.
Hip-pop artists who weave messages into their music and conceptual imagery, BTS has proven immensely popular globally, and has been thrust to immense heights by its dedicated fanbase known as ARMY. The act most recently released their chart-topping album Love Yourself: Answer and single "Idol" in August ahead of their currently-running Love Yourself global concert tour. Since then, the septet has gone on to share their message of self-love throughout multiple interviews and concert stops, and even during an appearance at the United Nations where the group spoke about the importance of self-actualization for young people.
BTS is currently touring in Europe. Their next shows are planned to take place in Paris this weekend on Oct. 19 and 20. Earlier this week, the seven performed in front of and met with South Korean president Moon Jae-in in the same city.
