In a newly released planning meeting video, the members shared how it feels to restart after about three years and discussed the show’s new direction themselves.
Leader RM said, “We picked it back up after 2023. Nothing beats 'Run BTS!,'” adding, “Rather than making something brand-new, I thought continuing it as ‘2.0’ would be better.” J-HOPE agreed, noting, “People waiting for BTS seem to want 'Run BTS!'.”
They also weighed how the show should evolve. SUGA pointed out, “YouTube and variety trends have changed a lot.” J-HOPE added, “Instead of forcing laughs, doing it naturally is one way―and sometimes going all-in on comedy is needed.”
The members aligned on keeping the format flexible. RM suggested, “It’s often hard for all seven to film together. What if we expand into vlogs or unit episodes?” JUNGKOOK said, “Whoever has time can do it. Running the channel well is what matters. But it still needs substance.”
Ideas poured in: challenges, overseas experiences, a musical, shorts dramas, studying English, cooking content, guerrilla interviews, and long-term projects.
More everyday concepts drew attention, too. JIN said, “I recently thought about the military and ended up cooking ramen with friends.” V shared, “I played a lot of jokgu (foot volleyball) in the military, so my nickname was ‘Jokgu-hara,’” making everyone laugh. The members also agreed on more natural content like a one-night, two-day trip, cooking, and real-life experiences.
In the end, they doubled down on the “essentials.” SUGA said, “We want to show our natural selves.” J-HOPE added, “Us giggling together is the best part.” V emphasized, “I’m doing it because I want to have fun.” RM concluded, “I hope we expand beyond just variety and try different formats.”
"Run BTS!", which began in 2015 and aired through 2023, became a pivotal driver in expanding the group’s global fandom.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)