BTS' strategic situation in 2026 will be much worse than 2021

At the end of 2021, BTS had no equals on the face of the earth.

Everyone , except the two I will cite, was either its friend or at least was neutral.

Only The Weeknd, whom, to this day , has not met BTS and tried to undermine it by inviting Jennie (BlackPink) to his show, and BTS's long time archenemy IU opposed it.

However, with few allies, the Weeknd could not do anything to BTS, and IU only had influence within South Korea, although that proved to be fatal. No one can claim more credits bringing down BTS than IU.

In 2026, it will face opposition all around the world.

Most of its friends have moved on or would be its rivals.

Even in hybe, SVT, NewJeans who-Hybe-will-debut and others will try to fight BTS.

Jungkook tried to rein The Kid Laroi but if he becomes successful who knows how he will behave against BTS.

IU personally will lead the entire Kakao Entertainment to fight BTS herself.

Assuming BTS can silence NewJeans, etc and IU, it will face the torrent of newer acts which get established 2023-25.

None of the erstwhile allies will come to help it since it is no longer dominant.

When Napoleon was doing well, he crossed the Rhine like a neighborhood stream, crossed the Danube whenever he felt like it and he crossed the Niemen (Neman, Nemunas), which at that time was the border between Western Europe and Russia, at least once. However, after his 1815 return, he couldn't even cross the Meuse (a river which flows through what is now Belgium).

Assuming BTS beats the iron ring of containment formed by NewJeans and IU, it will have to fight the new crop of artists who took power.

Then it will have to fight Morgan Wallen, who was a non-entity when BTS had conquered the world but is now a big force to be reckoned with in the country music.

Assuming BTS beats all of them, it will have to fight the established stars who will not allow another intrusion like 2020-22.

Once power is lost, it is impossible to get it back. Even adele had a hard time getting back to power in 2021 because BTS had become the dominant act.

Quote from elliejr

Bold of you to assume hybe will support these 4th gen groups by 2026.

It is likely that Hybe will take more from the newer acts than BTS so it would be better, in Bang's perspective, to see the new acts do better

Quote from notbored

pls someone explain the kid laroi ppart

Kid Laroi is Hybe

Jungkook went to see Laroi in Loolaplaza or something like that to make sure Laroi realizes who is the boss. but if Laroi does better in the next 3 years it will be harder to reign Laroi

Quote from ellenote

I AGREE WITH YOU! Nobody hearing you out but I of course do!!!! I do not know what BTS will do when they comeback, what can they do that will rival whatever group is popular in 2026? or what they will do in the west, what will Army do when bts have no musical direction and are stuck making even worse songs? Nobody in American will acknowledge them anymore! Going to be bad for them. Love and support bts though. Just not in 2026!

By 2026 an entirely different map , quite unfavorable to BTS, will await them.

The ethos which took BTS to the top of the world would be long gone.

Some Armies would be around . How many, hard to tell. But certain that it will be a fraction of what it was at the end of 2021 when expectation on them was at the highest.

Quote from BTS-ae-1320

damn as long as BTS gets a comeback, im sure ARMYs are fine

and oh please, ARMYs will still be around & their comeback's gonna be MASSIVE

ARMYs will still be around.

How many of them, who knows.

Quote from flowerteapetal

The Weeknd invited Jennie to undermine BTS?

IU is an archenemy while making music with Suga.

Seems OP might need some professional help, because the delulu is high with this OP

Yes, Abel Tesfeye invided Jennie Kim to forge an alliance, but by the time the show started, BTS was in a semi permanent hiatus which made the point of inviting Jennie moot.

IU was always trying to undermine BTS whenever she could and Eight was a giant trap she had made, which was only overcome by Dynamite. Without Dynamite, Eight would have been the top song of 2020. significantly undermining BTS' world domination.