BTS has officially announced their return as a full seven-member group in spring 2026 with a new album, marking their first group comeback in three years following mandatory military service. The group is also set to embark on a global tour, heightening fan and media anticipation for their long-awaited reunion.

However, while most fans celebrated the announcement, some other fans appear to have a different opinion. On July 7, a series of protest trucks bearing banners related to Jungkook’s solo career were spotted parked in front of HYBE’s headquarters.

Messages displayed on the trucks included: “Refuse to be bound. Secure one’s personal interest and safety! Jungkook solo tour! Jungkook go solo", “Jungkook let’s go higher. Jungkook go solo, Jungkook solo tour", “Refuse to be bound. FREE JUNGKOOK. Secure one’s personal interest and safety”,...

The messages appeared to demand that HYBE more aggressively support Jungkook’s solo career. Some of the slogans, particularly those with harsher undertones, even seemed to suggest the group’s youngest member should separate from group activities altogether—prompting a wave of mixed reactions.

News of the protest quickly went viral, garnering over 35,000 views and igniting heated debate on online forums like theqoo and X (formerly Twitter).

Some users interpreted the protest as a hopeful move, showing fans' confidence in Jungkook’s solo potential:

- His solo promotions did well, and he has the potential. Fans have the right to want him to have solo promotions, why is everyone going crazy?

- It’s obvious that fans want to see a solo promotion since he was dragged into the military as a group. HYBE needs to get it together. Give us Jungkook’s solo!

- The message on the trucks isn’t written harshly and even uses hearts. It’s more of a fans’ wish truck than a protest truck. Fans who joined the fandom through solo promotions will surely await solo projects. I’m also curious about his next solo work because I liked his songs.

However, others strongly criticized the protest as excessive and disrespectful toward the artist and his agency:

- It’s not like he’s a minor. I’m sure he will do what he needs to do. True fans don’t do things like this.

- What’s wrong with them…he will do it when he needs to

- He just got discharged from the military…let him breathe.

- This is so embarrαѕѕing first of all knowing jungkook goes to HYBE for his work and he might see all this

- If you are a fan of jungkook and really respect him, you would not even send this truck demanding him what to do or what not to do

- Jungkook is a man who knows what he wants and what he doesn’t wants. So it all comes to him of he wants to do the tour or not. We are no one to demand the world tour by sending trucks Whoever is agreeing to send this truck you just see your artist as a puppet and don’t even respect him at all

- Imagine him seeing "GO SOLO" When he stayed there for 12 yrs hardworking along with his members to get all the success even by sacrificing his own school life family all the other teenager dreams just to achieve his dream then someday sнιт like this????? JK IS NOT YOUR PUPPET !!

- Literally BEEN saying Jungkook solo stans aren’t fans of him, all they want to do is brag abt his achievements. they are antis

The protest may have been sparked by earlier rumors suggesting Jungkook was preparing to resume solo activities post-military. But the announcement of BTS’s group comeback in early July, without any mention of Jungkook's solo project from HYBE, seems to have disappointed a segment of fans.

This controversy once again highlights a deeper question within modern fandom culture—where is the line between support and pressure? It also underscores the tension that can arise between group and individual pursuits among idols.

That said, BTS has long been celebrated for their strong group dynamic over the past decade. Fans trust that the members and their management have a well-balanced plan that honors both collective and personal ambitions. Above all, fans are encouraged to support the group’s decisions and patiently await the exciting projects ahead.