K-pop icons BTS are back, promising fans a new album and a world tour following their years-long hiatus. The band that is credited by some with helping to popularize the genre in the U.S. announced their widely anticipated return on a live stream watched by millions of fans on Tuesday, July 1.

BTS has been on hiatus since 2022, allowing all seven members -- Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook -- to serve their mandatory military service in South Korea. The members revealed in a Weverse livestream that they'll be heading to the United States in July to start work on the new album.