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The famous K-pop group BTS will return in the spring of 2026. They plan to release a new album and start a world tour.
All seven members shared the news on Tuesday. They spoke to their fans live on social media. This was the first time they were all together live since September 2022.
The group said it will release a new BTS album next spring. “Starting in July, all seven of us will begin working closely together on new music.”
They said that the album will include ideas from every member and that they are making this album with the same feeling they had when they first started. The band will travel to the US this month to start working on their new songs.
This will be their first group album since “Proof” in 2022 and their first studio album since “Be” in 2020.
The group also announced a new world tour, their first tour in almost four years. The news comes after four members recently finished their required military service in South Korea.
In South Korea, all healthy men between 18 and 28 years old must serve in the military for about 18 to 21 months.
Six of the BTS members served in the army. Suga worked as a social service agent instead. Jin was the first member to finish his service in June 2024, and J-Hope finished in October.
Usually, famous athletes or classical musicians can receive special permission to avoid military service. However, this rule is not for K-pop stars. In 2020, a new law allowed BTS to wait until they were 30 to begin their service.
Vocabulary
- Famous – Many people know it; Well-known or admired by many people
- K-pop – Korean pop music;
- Group – two or more people/companies that work together for a reason
- Return – to come back; to restart doing something you that you stopped doing
- Release – make available to everyone; launch; put on the market
- Album – A collection of songs by one singer or group
- World tour – A trip around the world, visiting different places in many countries.
- Member – Someone who is a part of/belongs to a group;
- Share – to tell someone or people about something; to make public; to announce; to give to other people
- Live – Happening “now”; happening in real time
- Social media – Websites and apps that allow people to communicate and share information online (Facebook, X, TikTok, etc.)
- Include – to contain; incorporate; to be part of; to have something smaller as a part of it; come with
- the US – USA; The United States of America
- Studio – A special room where music, movies, or TV shows are made
- Announce – share information openly; to tell the public; to make a statement; to report; to tell everyone
- Recently – Not long ago
- Required – necessary; have to; obligatory; mandatory; needed
- Military service – time spent serving/working in the army, navy, air force, etc.
- Serve in the military – To work for your country’s army, navy, or air force
- Army – A group of people who fight on land for their country
- Social service – a group or organization that helps people in the community; helping people who need help
- Agent – A person who does work for another person or group
- Athlete – a person who is trained in and good at sports or physical exercise
- Musician – a person who plays a musical instrument or sings professionally; a person who makes music
- Permission – allowed to do; authorization; approval; it’s OK to do
- Avoid – stay away from; keep away; try not to do
- Law – a rule, regulation, or guideline set by the government
- Allowed – permission to do something; it’s OK; permitted; you may; you can
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- How do you feel about BTS returning with new music and a tour? Are you excited? Why or why not?
- What do you think makes BTS so popular around the world?
- Do you think it’s fair that all young men in South Korea must do military service? Why or why not?
- If you were a famous K-pop star, would you want to delay your military service, or would you serve at the usual time?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
The famous K-pop _____ BTS will return in the spring of _____ . They plan to release a new album and start a world tour.
_____ seven members shared the news on Tuesday. They _____ to their fans live on social media. This was the first time they _____ all together live since September _____ .
The group said it will _____ a new BTS album next spring. “Starting in July, all seven of us _____ begin working closely together on new _____ .”
They said that the album will _____ ideas from every member and that they are making this album with the _____ feeling they had when they first started. The band will _____ to the US this month to start working on their new _____ .
This will be their _____ group album since “Proof” in 2022 and _____ first studio album since “Be” in 2020.
_____ group also announced a new world tour, their _____ tour in almost four years. The news comes after _____ members recently finished their required military service _____ South Korea.
In South Korea, all healthy _____ between 18 and 28 years old must serve in the military for about _____ to 21 months.
Six of the BTS _____ served in the army. Suga worked as a social service agent _____ . Jin was the first member to finish his _____ in June 2024, and J-Hope finished in October.
_____ , famous athletes or classical musicians can receive _____ permission to avoid military service. However, this _____ is not for K-pop stars. In 2020, a new law _____ BTS to wait until they were 30 to begin their _____ .
