During the 2018 MAMA Awards, Jin spilled the beans during an acceptance speech, disclosing that the group had contemplated going their separate ways that year. Jin shared that the mental health of all members had taken a toll, making disbandment a serious consideration. Fortunately, they rallied together, overcame the tough times, and continued their journey.
“It was really tough for all of us mentally earlier this year. We even talked about whether to disband or not and gave it a lot of thought… but we pulled ourselves together and I’m so glad that we were able to receive such an amazing award. I’d like to thank our members for pulling togther. I’m so grateful for our members and for ARMY for always showing us their love and support. Thank you.”
— Statement from Jin during the “2018 MAMAs” speech
This incident has been revisited in their new documentary, BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star. Suga compared the situation to a romantic relationship destined to end, but neither party wants to be the one to end it.
“We eventually had to make a choice,” said Suga, expressing that the fear of being the “bad guy” held them all back. This sentiment echoed his song, ‘Trivia: Seesaw,’ where he expressed similar thoughts. Initially thought to be about a romantic relationship, it’s now clear that the song directly alluded to BTS’s struggles at that time.
While fans only learned about the group’s predicament in November at the MMAs when Jin mentioned it, Suga had actually hinted at it months earlier. The revelation adds a new layer of understanding to Suga’s lyrics and provides insight into the challenges the group faced before their public disclosure.