BTS breakup costs Hybe $1.7 billion

The K-pop group BTS is breaking up. Or maybe not. It depends on who you ask.

The grown men who make up the South Korean boyband BTS posted a video Tuesday announcing their intention to pursue solo careers.

In the video, all seven of the Bangtan Boys — what BTS stands for — reminisced about their wildly successful, decade-long career together but explained they’d all rather try something else.

The bandmates said the time apart from each other would be healthy and allow them to mature on their own. BTS, some of whom were crying in the video, also told fans not to take the news as a negative development.

Band member V spoke of a conversation he had with J-Hope about working on solo projects. V said it would improve the band’s “synergy”. Suga said he wanted to try out new genres of music.

The video garnered more than 13 million views within a day, and it certainly came as a surprise to the company that manages BTS, Hybe Co.

Hybe lost $1.7 billion in market value after BTS members said they were going solo. Hybe quickly released a statement which said BTS would “remain active as a team while taking individual journeys to further achieve personal growth.”

No details about future BTS collaborations or solo projects were announced Tuesday. BTS has a global fanbase and recently addressed the UN General Assembly and went to the White House to discuss ways to combat violence against Asian Americans.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.