Beloved K-pop boy band BTS is taking a break from the stage.
The hugely successful South Korean group have said the "extended" hiatus will allow the seven members to "enjoy their normal lives as normal 20-something young men", says the group's management agency, BigHit Entertainment.
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The hiatus will be the popular K-pop septet's first official break from performing and recording since their formation six years ago.
Their international fan base has reacted sympathetically to the news, with the self-titled 'BTS Army' leaving thousands of messages of support on the group's Twitter account, which boasts over 21 million followers.
In a statement released on Sunday (local time), the agency said the 'Mic Drop' hitmakers planned to "rest" and "recharge and refresh as musicians and creators".
The statement did not specify when BTS will return to work. The group are still set to perform in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Seoul in October.
BTS, also referred to as the Bangtan Boys, is largely credited with popularising K-pop in the US and Britain.
The group's global success has helped maintain K-pop's popularity, the genre recently plagued with sexual misconduct allegations.
The Bangtan Boys are worth over US$3.5 billion (NZ$5.4 billion) to South Korea's economy per year, The Guardian reports.
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