BTS Suga's longest silence: How ARMY coped through his music and memories from Run BTS, In The Soop and more

The last time we truly saw BTS’ Suga, born Min Yoongi, was in September 2023, just before he left for his mandatory military service. He smiled his ‘gummy smile’, during his Weverse Live and then said cheerily, “See you in 2025.” Unlike the other members, who stayed connected through posts and updates, Suga remained true to his word—silent. It has been almost a year and a half since we saw or actually heard properly from him.

On Twitter, ARMYs regularly post his videos, edits and keep declaring how much they miss him, and his music. They were not prepared for this long silence: The passionate, powerful D-Day concert that Suga did before leaving, had filled a different fire in most ARMYs. They had seen him break down in tears while playing the guitar, as he recalled his entire musical journey, what he had loved, lost and gained. He walked 'through a door' in the concert, symbolising his peace and freedom.

'I kept reliving his albums’

So, how has this period been from 2023 September till now? UAE ARMY’s try explaining. Some relived his songs and dived deep into their power and magnetic hold, looking for what they had missed earlier and they always found something new, to mull over. If it wasn't the pain of Amygdala, it was rhe constant reverbration of the future going to be okay in his song D Day.

One particular song was Snooze, where the rapper quietly breathes ‘It’s okay. It’s okay. Dream’, towards the end. The song detailing the hardships of dreams, the weariness of the highs and lows, brought words of reassurance and comfort to those who were still looking for a dream, and the strength to see it through.

Dubai-based Abhilasha Malude, a 28-year-old sales professional recalls, “I think I appreciated last album, D-Day even more---I understood the nuances and complexities of it, the heartbreak and the raw vulnerabilities that he portrayed in the songs Snooze, Polar Night and Dear My Friend,” she says. There is nothing that he hid from the fans in his songs---everything was for them to see, plain and real in all the anguish and heartache. As fans say, his songs break and heal you at the same time.

It appears to be the common sentiment: Suga’s songs were streamed so consistently that they would reappear on different international charts regularly. One particular poignant moment was how ARMY determinedly expressed their support for him, when misinformation began to be spread about the singer, to the point of defamation.They kept streaming Polar Night, to the point it returned to the charts with full fervour.

Others, while doing the same, also wanted to see his playful, loving side in the fun variety shows, Run BTS, In The Soop and Bon Voyage. For Dubai-based Manisha Singh, a media professional, it’s cathartic. “The wrong impression of Suga is that he is always cold, and quiet: You can’t be further away from the truth than that. So, I spent time watching him in all the shows, the side that we won’t often see on stage, but the side that exists for ARMY’s and his members,” she says. Her favourite episode? When Suga tries to give RM and Jimin cooking instructions and was horrified at the final result that they produced: They added several spoons of salt, instead of sugar.

But this year sees hope on the horizon. The members will all return in June, and BTS returns again, as seven.