Advertisement
BTS may be hard at work on their long-awaited comeback, but fresh reports suggest that there could be bumps in the road. On August 13, Korean media outlets claimed that Bang Si Hyuk, the founder of BIGHIT MUSIC and current HYBE chairman, abruptly returned to South Korea on August 11 due to being summoned for a police investigation into a stock fraud case. According to the reports, his sudden return disrupted the production process for BTS’ upcoming album, which the group has been crafting in the United States.
The news quickly spread online, with headlines suggesting that the group’s album plans might be at a standstill. However, many fans remain skeptical. No major outlets beyond News Tong have confirmed the details, and industry watchers say it’s unlikely that the group’s work would grind to a halt solely because of Bang Si Hyuk’s absence. BTS is known for collaborating with an array of producers and songwriters, and they’ve already shared glimpses of their progress.
Over the past few months, the members have been spotted working in studios both in Korea and the US. Clips showed them spending time with Charlie Puth, while RM mentioned hanging out with Diplo during his stay. In a July 1 livestream, BTS themselves confirmed plans to head to the US for concentrated recording sessions, and since then they’ve been traveling back and forth to put everything together.
The new album will be historic for another reason — it’s the group’s first comeback as a full seven-member team after completing their military service. Jin, who was the first to enlist and the first to return, wrapped up his solo “Run SeokJin Ep World Tour” earlier this summer, reuniting BTS for the first time in years.
As of now, the album is still expected to arrive in spring 2026, though no exact date has been locked in. ARMYs are holding out hope for a group livestream soon, one where all seven members appear together to give an update and perhaps ease concerns. For now, speculation around Bang Si Hyuk’s investigation continues, but BTS’ comeback remains one of the most anticipated moments in K-pop history.