Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on May 10, 2023 and was updated on May 16, 2025 to reflect all of BTS' solo work from the original publish date through Jin's Echo EP.

No one can deny that South Korean boy group BTS is a phenomenon. Since their debut in 2013, the septet formed by Jin, Suga, j-hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook broke barriers and prejudices against Asian artists, reached notable milestones, and brought together one of the world's most devoted fandom, known as ARMY.

Their relatable lyrics talk about societal issues and the pressures of growing up. Their intricate storytelling blends art classics, pop culture, and Korean heritage into something entirely new. BTS also offer a wide-range of musical genres — from hip hop disses like "Mic Drop," to heartfelt ballads like "Spring Day," to feel-good bubblegum pop like "Butter," there's something for every music lover out there. Regardless of any opinions, it's impossible not to be in awe of their oeuvre.

Taking all of that into consideration, it's not surprising that they broke numerous records throughout their career — like becoming the first non-English-speaking, Asian artists to sell out Wembley Stadium and the Rose Bowl in 2019. BTS also won a slew of trophies at South Korean and American award shows, including five GRAMMY nominations. For all of their contributions to South Korea's culture, they also became the youngest recipients of the country's Order of Cultural Merit in 2018.

BTS is, in some ways, a symbol of something bigger than themselves. An entity capable of uniting people all over the world and transmitting much-needed messages in their music. However, that wouldn't be possible if the seven humans behind it weren't as interesting as the whole. Since the beginning, BTS always encouraged its members to develop their own artistry, and all of them have released several solos that spotlight their unique talents.

While 2022 brought in the news that BTS would take a break from group activities as they enlisted in the South Korean mandatory military service, that meant their solo careers would take on the spotlight, launching a new era for the group. With the arrival of Jin's latest project, Echo, GRAMMY.com breaks down all of BTS' solo releases so far.

Jin

Jin isn't just "Mr. Worldwide Handsome," as he became known for his good looks. The eldest member of BTS is also a competent vocalist, whose soothing voice gave life to three solo songs under the group's roster: 2016's "Awake," 2018's "Epiphany" and 2020's "Moon."

The Anyang-born singer also contributed to the band's SoundCloud with the co-written and co-composed tracks "Tonight" and "Abyss," revealing his sensitive mind. The former, released in 2019, was inspired by the deaths of Jin's dog and two sugar glider pets; 2020's "Abyss" dealt with his fears and anxieties. "My voice doesn't come out, I just circle around/ That dark place that I wanted to be locked in, I want to go there," he sings.

In 2021, Jin was chosen to sing "Yours," the main theme of TvN's drama "Jirisan." However, the real highlight of that year was "Super Tuna," a short song made for kicks and giggles that went viral on YouTube and TikTok.

As the eldest of the group, Jin was also the first to enlist in the military in December of 2022. Shortly before that, he graced fans with his official solo debut single, "The Astronaut." Co-written alongside Coldplay, the inspirational track and its soft rock sheen foreshadowed Jin's potential as a soloist. 

Following his discharge in June 2024, Jin participated as a torch bearer in the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay, released a full music video for “Super Tuna,” and finally dropped his long-awaited first album, Happy. The six-track collection displays Jin’s affinity for British rock and uplifting melodies, developing the sounds in “The Astronaut” to form a fully-fledged artistry.

On May 16, 2025, Jin released his second EP, Echo, further exploring rock sounds and conveying “universal life experiences and emotions” through his “unique and charming perspective,” according to a press statement. To celebrate the release, Jin will embark on his first world tour, RunSeokjin Ep. Tour, starting on June 28 in Goyang, South Korea, and wrapping up on Aug. 10 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Suga

One of BTS' main songwriters, producers and rappers, Suga is a prolific artist with a keen view about the world that we live in. Born in the city of Daegu, he began as an underground rapper and initially joined Big Hit Entertainment as a producer. Eventually, Suga became a trainee along with the other members.

Since BTS' debut in 2013, he has contributed as a songwriter to the majority of their material, as well as producing and featuring in tracks by other artists such as Halsey's "Suga's Interlude," PSY's "That That," and IU's "Eight." He released five solo tracks as part of the group's discography: 2015's "Intro: The Most Beautiful Moment in Life" and "Intro: Never Mind," 2016's "First Love," 2018's "Trivia: Seesaw," and 2019's "Interlude: Shadow." Each one revealed his talent as a poignant storyteller on the ups and downs of growing up, dealing with fame, and remaining hopeful amid storms.

Concomitantly, he formulated the alter ego Agust D and released two solo mixtapes, 2016's Agust D and 2020's D-2. His first studio album under the alias, April's D-Day, concluded the explosive trilogy that dealt with themes like anger, vengeance, and pain. 

After becoming the first BTS member to headline his own tour in the U.S. and Asia in 2023, Suga enlisted in the military in September of that year. He is due out on June 21, 2025.

j-hope

Rapper j-hope was born in the metropolis of Gwangju, where he became known for his dancing skills. His interest in rapping, though, only came once he moved to Seoul and became a trainee under Big Hit Entertainment, where felt inspired by teammates Suga, RM and producer Supreme Boi.

J-hope gradually developed his skills and became one of BTS' main songwriters, releasing three solo songs: 2016's "Intro: Boy Meets Evil" and "Mama" and 2018's "Trivia 起: Just Dance." Also in 2018, j-hope released his buoyant solo debut mixtape, Hope World. The album peaked at No. 38 on Billboard's 200 chart, turning him into the highest charting Korean soloist at the time. In 2019, he collaborated with Becky G on the hip hop track "Chicken Noodle Soup."

Following the announcement that BTS would be taking a break from group activities in 2022, j-hope was the first member to begin solo promotions. Jack in the Box, his first solo album, arrived that July, and just 16 days later, he became the first South Korean artist to headline Lollapalooza.

While serving military duty, j-hope left fans a few gifts. First came the special single "on the street," featuring rapper J. Cole, and the special album Hope on the Street Vol.1 in 2023. The album features collaborations with the likes of Jung Kook, Nile Rodgers and Benny Blanco, and is accompanied by a Prime Video docuseries, Hope on the Street. 

On Oct. 17, 2024, j-hope was officially discharged, and quickly resumed his solo career. He performed at the Paris charity event Le Gala des Pièces Jaunes in January 2025, and launched his first solo tour, Hope on the Street, across Asia and North America in February. J-hope is also set to headline Lollapalooza Berlin in July.

RM

RM has often been the group's main spokesperson and producer. Through his work, he earned a stellar reputation both inside and outside of South Korea, collaborating with artists such as Fall Out Boy, Lil Nas X, Younha, Tiger JK, and Erykah Badu.

Born in Seoul, RM was a trainee under Big Hit Entertainment for three years before debuting, where he honed his songwriting skills in pre-debut tracks and cuts for other K-pop groups. As part of BTS, the gifted singer and rapper released a few solos: 2013's "Intro: O!RUL8,2?," 2014's "Intro: What Am I to You?," 2016's "Reflection," and 2019's "Trivia: Love" and "Persona." 

He was also the first member of the group to release a solo mixtape, 2015's RM, which showcased his distinct flow and honest self-reflections about rage and the contradictions of fame. In 2018 came his introspective, minimalistic second mixtape, Mono. Although just as honest about his emotions as the first one, Mono showcased a more pensive, or rather matured, side of RM. 

In December 2022, RM unveiled his much-awaited debut studio album, Indigo. Described as "the last archive of my 20s," RM continued his thoughtful reflections on what it means to make art and to be human. 

Shortly after the release, he traveled to Spain to find inspiration for his yet-to-be-announced second album, as he told EFE in March 2023. Due to his enlistment, RM also revealed that he would "not be taking on any projects in the near future," which explains why he remained mostly quiet in 2023. Before departing to the military in December, though, he featured on the So!yoON! track "Smoke Sprite" and on Colde's "Don't Ever Say Love Me."

In May 2024, RM returned with a new album, Right Place, Wrong Person. Across 11 tracks, RM aimed to tell the nigh-universal story of a creature of habit who comes to find satisfaction exploring foreign places. Right Place, Wrong Person is an evolution not only of RM's inimitable artistry, but a signal that he's truly a musical chameleon.

Roughly a month before his military discharge on June 12, 2025, RM teamed up with Epik High’s TABLO for an exceptional collaboration in the special single “Stop the Rain.”

Jimin

Jimin always made an impression through his elegant dance moves and distinct falsettos, giving an aesthetic flair to all of BTS' releases. The Busan-born artist also showcased more of his talents through three solo tracks with the group: 2016's "Lie," 2017's "Serendipity" and 2020's "Filter."

In 2018, he released his first credited solo song, "Promise," followed by "Christmas Love" in 2020. That same year, Jimin collaborated with close friend and singer Ha Sung-woon on "With You" (the soundtrack to TvN's 2022 drama "Our Blues"), and in January 2023, he co-wrote and featured on Big Bang member Taeyang's single, "Vibe."

In March 2023, Jimin released his long-awaited debut EP, Face, and its lead single, the synth-pop tune "Like Crazy," topped the Billboard Hot 100 — becoming the first BTS member to score a Hot 100 No. 1 on their own, and the first South Korean solo act to lead the chart. After that feat, he featured on Kodak Black and NLE Choppa's "Angel Pt. 1" (alongside JVKE and Muni Long), as part of the soundtrack for the film Fast X, and released the documentary Jimin's Production Diary on HYBE's digital platform, Weverse.

Alongside Jung Kook, Jimin's enlistment began on Dec. 12, 2023. As a special send-off, he dropped the sweet song "Closer Than This" and dedicated it to ARMY. Seven months later, "Closer Than This" was revealed to be part of the tracklist for Jimin’s second solo album, MUSE.

Released in July 2024, MUSE was co-written and co-produced by the singer, including first-class collaborations from Jon Bellion, Ryan Tedder, Sofia Carson, and more. Showcasing a mixture of nostalgic 2000s pop with a dose of the Beatles, the album proves Jimin’s growing musical identity, placing him as a confident, hands-on auteur.

V

V's husky baritone voice is one of BTS' most prominent elements, giving depth and texture to their songs. Like Suga, he was born in Daegu and dreamed of becoming a singer. After debuting with BTS, he released three solos under their name: 2016's "Stigma," 2018's "Singularity" and 2020's "Inner Child."

On the group's SoundCloud, he has slowly developed his own tracks. In 2019, he issued the self-composed ballad "Scenery," and later the all-English "Winter Bear." He also contributed to a few Korean dramas' soundtracks along the years, most notably 2020's "Sweet Night," off JTBC's Itaewon Class, and 2021's "Christmas Tree," off Studio N's Our Beloved Summer.

Although it was rumored that V would release an official mixtape in 2022, he came through with a full solo album instead. September 2023's Layover brims with V's unique taste for jazz and lo-fi music, and posits him as a cool and confident soloist. 

Barely three months later, V began his military enlistment — but that doesn't mean he'll stop the music until his return. In March 2024, he dropped the special English single "FRI(END)S," and in December, he released a remix of Bing Crosby's 1942 classic "White Christmas," continuing to craft his sophisticated, vintage sound.

Jung Kook

At 26 years old, Jung Kook is the youngest member of BTS. Like Jimin, he was born in the coastal city of Busan, but moved to Seoul as a teenager to pursue his dreams of becoming a singer. In "Begin," his first solo song released on BTS' 2016 album, Wings, he sings about how the group was largely his introduction to life: "When I was 15 years old, I had nothing/ The world was too big and I was small."

Later came 2018's "Euphoria" and 2020's "My Time," off BTS' Love Yourself: Answer and Map of the Soul: 7, respectively. Also in 2020, he released "Stay Alive," the main soundtrack to BTS-based webtoon 7Fates: Chakho. He also published occasional solo work via Twitter, including the fan-loved "Decalcomanie," or SoundCloud, where he released "My You" and "Still With You" — the platform's Most-Streamed Pop Song in 2022, despite being released in 2020.

In 2022 and 2023, Jung Kook explored international collaborations as a primer to his upcoming solo releases. He participated in Charlie Puth's pop hit "Left and Right," and released "Dreamers" for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, later performing it at the opening ceremony of the event.

As Western audiences warmed up to his charismatic presence, Jung Kook released his official solo debut single "Seven" in July 2023. Featuring rapper Latto and sung entirely in English, the track consolidated Jung Kook's departure from cutie pie into mischievous stud: "I'll be f—in' you right seven days a week," he sings in the explicit version of the song. 

In September 2023, the singer dropped "3D" with Jack Harlow, and later announced that his debut studio album, Golden, would come out in November. Spearheaded by the marvelous disco-pop of "Standing Next to You," Golden features 10 charming tracks that place Jung Kook as a gilded star on his own. He also scored collaborations with Usher in a remix of "Standing Next to You," and with Justin Timberlake in a remix of "3D," further consolidating his global appeal. 

Just one month after the release, Jung Kook enrolled in the military, making him and Jimin the last BTS members to do so. Jung Kook is expected to be discharged on June 11, 2025. In the meantime, he released “Never Let Go” in June 2024 to celebrate BTS' 11th anniversary, and premiered a documentary film titled I Am Still in September.

Even as members of one of the biggest boy bands in the world, the BTS guys have undoubtedly proven to be compelling soloists as well. As the countdown for BTS' group return ticks on, their individual musical contributions keep the anticipation high — and ultimately prove that once they're back together, BTS will be stronger than ever.