BTS members struggle with return after military service in documentary

K-pop boyband BTS can be seen struggling with their return to music after military service in BTS: The Return, a new Netflix documentary on the group.

The Bao Nguyen-directed documentary follows the group – RM, Jin, Suga, J-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook – as they reunite for their latest album and their return to stage.

It comes after all members completed mandatory military service in their home country of South Korea following a 2022 hiatus “at the height of their popularity”.

The chart-topping boyband, known for hits including Dynamite and Butter, made their return to the stage last week a day after releasing their latest album, Arirang.

Their documentary film, which is almost two hours long, features archival footage of the group, including from their first concert in 2013, and documents BTS’ time in Los Angeles in 2025 as they record their new album.

The band are seen struggling with their return to the music industry, with each member sharing different concerns about releasing a new record after a four-year break.

Kim Nam-joon, who performs under the name RM, is seen reflecting on the group’s past and wondering how they will move forward in the future as he says they must “decide what to keep and what to change”.

He adds: “We’re just trying to find out what makes us special, and what makes us BTS.”

The 31-year-old singer also reflected on his time in the military, and said: “Personally, I really hate to be stuck in a routine.

“The funny thing is, we spent a year-and-a-half in the military, and now it all feels like a dream. It feels like we were never there.

“Things change and trends shift all the time. Newer artists are breaking into the industry all the time. We have to change, too. How are we supposed to evolve and grow if we keep pushing against the tide? That’s just existing.”

The documentary also explains why BTS chose the name Arirang – which is a Korean folk song – for their new album.

Nam-joon said: “Arirang is a song that expresses ‘han’, a deep sorrow and longing. For many years, our people would sing it in an attempt to overcome great pain and suffering with joy.

“I think that, as a Korean person, the thought of sampling this famous, traditional song felt too on-the-nose; that was my reaction at first.

“But when I realised the weight that Arirang carries and the message we wanted to convey with our album, it felt almost organic.”

Reflecting on the group’s reunion Kim Seok-jin, or Jin to fans, said: “When I was finally reunited with everyone in Los Angeles, it didn’t feel like I was seeing my colleagues. It felt like I was seeing my family again.”

Kim Tae-hyung, known as V, said: “If I compare who we were then to who we are now, I feel like everything about us has changed at least a little bit.”

The documentary closes with the group reflecting on their reunion, as well as a performance of their latest single, Swim.

BTS – an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan, or Beyond the Scene – first announced their comeback with a series of handwritten letters sent to members of their fanbase – nicknamed Army – across the world.

The group have had four top 10 singles and three number one albums in the UK, and are best known for their hit songs and collaborations with western artists such as Charli XCX, Coldplay and Halsey.

BTS were the first K-pop act to score a Grammy nomination and have had five nods but have never won.

They are the best-selling music act in South Korean history, having sold more than 40 million albums, and the first non-English speaking group to sell out Wembley Stadium.