All seven members of BTS are away to fulfill their mandatory military service, and it looks like everyone is feeling the emptiness they left behind.
BTS | Weverse
ARMYs are missing their boys badly, but they have also found a productive way to keep busy. While being sad, they also started pushing BTS’s older releases to chart again on iTunes, even defeating Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas” during the Christmas season!
.@BTS_twt‘s “No More Dream” has reached #1 on US iTunes for the first time ever.
It was originally released as the group’s debut track in 2013. pic.twitter.com/vdpV6kmllL
— chart data (@chartdata) December 15, 2023
.@BTS_twt‘s “Outro : Tear” has reached #1 on US iTunes for the first time ever. pic.twitter.com/SmmIUd2j0a
— chart data (@chartdata) December 14, 2023
Some have also organized a fun activity where they pretend BTS is a newly debuted group and go through their releases and content chronologically to reintroduce the group to old and new fans.
(ARMYs who missed debut era, this is your time. Join in with us now and pretend it’s 2013 and that a new group—Bangtan Sonyeondan—is debuting tomorrow. Pick a team #Team_2Cool4Skool or #Team_ORUL82 and join #BTS_REDEBUT_BATTLE!! We’re not ARMYs btw, we’re Bells) pic.twitter.com/lnCIfa2xlV
— Yet To Come Ⓢ⁷ | #Team2Cool4Skool (@im_yet_to_come) December 14, 2023
SUPPORT THESE NUGUS #BTSISCOMING #BTS_REDEBUT_BATTLE pic.twitter.com/gxzHyZ85At
— jj ✦ ⁴⁺⁷ (@jkzpiercing) December 14, 2023
BTS have also prepared many contents in advance to keep ARMYs busy while they are away.
While all of this is mostly keeping fans distracted, it seems that the staff members who worked with BTS are going through it as well.
Kim Dong Hak, a physical therapist at BTS’s parent company HYBE, posted a couple of Instagram stories recently, that made fans extremely emotional. He uploaded a picture of a whiteboard with the word “empty” written on it. The seven BT21 magnets in the corner of the board indicated that it was the same one RM used to write down his workout routine and share it often with fans through his Instagram.
| @donghaknim/Instagram
Kim also posted a picture of him at the same location where BTS shot the jacket of You Never Walk Alone.
| BIGHIT MUSIC
With the two stories together, it is evident that the HYBE trainer is missing the BTS members as much as ARMYs. While some found it relatable, others were heartbroken to be reminded about BTS’s absence once again.
hybe staff posted a picture of gym board where namjoon used to write his workout, the staff wrote “empty” but the seven stickers are still there im not crying you are pic.twitter.com/wlOoy4YjTo
— ᴊ☆ᴏɴ (@kkukvmin) December 19, 2023
Not Donghak, staff of Hybe’s Artist Conditioning Team and Physical Therapist), writing ’empty’ in the same namjoon’s workout routine board, look the bt21 stickers everyone miss bts sm pic.twitter.com/HFFCnm43zD
— Carolyne⁷ ʲᵏ ʰᵒᵖᵉ ᵛᵉʳ (ꪜ)🪞🪐 (@mhereonlyforbts) December 19, 2023
STOPPPPPP
— moni⁷ 𖠌 (@taeisthv) December 19, 2023
We’re all going thru it pic.twitter.com/RcK45esz6J
— 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕞𝕪⁷⟭⟬(ꪜ)🪞⍤⃝ (@SamPalDdaeng) December 19, 2023
This must be hard for the staff as well. The seven were always around, and now till they come back, what to do.
— Seokjinnie⁷ (@Jins_moongirl) December 19, 2023
one of the Staff wrote “EMPTY” on Namjoon’s board
How can I forget that BigHit’s staff have good relationships with Bangtan!! 🥹 pic.twitter.com/W1Vi4WAvGu
— Rani⁷ (@prajaktabts7) December 19, 2023
Fighting Mr. Kim and ARMYS!
They are in the same boat.
