MONSTA X Members Reveal They Didn't Have Much Time to Relax After Returning from Mandatory Military Service (Exclusive)
MONSTA X Members Reveal They Didn't Have Much Time to Relax After Returning from Mandatory Military Service (Exclusive)
Daniela AvilaThu, April 23, 2026 at 9:37 PM UTC
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MONSTA X reunited in 2025 after a hiatus due to members completing mandatory military service
Once they reunited, there was no time for "relaxing," the band said on PEOPLE in 10
The group released their latest album Unfold earlier this month
MONSTA X knows how to keep it cool.
Following a temporary hiatus that began in 2023 due to several members enlisting in the military, the band has finally reunited and released their newest studio album Unfold.
Speaking with PEOPLE in 10, the band, which consists of SHOWNU, MINHYUK, KIHYUN, HYUNGWON, JOOHONEY and I.M, was asked what their first reunion was like — and if it involved "lots of hugs."
MONSTA X in New York City in April 2026Credit: Gary Gershoff/Getty
"Nah," multiple band members say, as KIHYUN responds, "We're boys."
After they returned from the military — which all able-bodied men must serve for 18 to 21 months in South Korea — there wasn't much time for "relaxing."
"We just released our new album and we prepared a concert," SHOWNU says, noting that the group's had "busy days."
When the band was asked to describe the new album in one word, SHOWNU says "honesty," while MINHYUK says "love."
MONSTA X marked their full-group reunion in August 2025 for their 10th anniversary. In September 2025, they released a brand-new album called The X.
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In December 2025, Starship Entertainment announced that member I.M wouldn't participate in the group's THE X: NEXUS tour or overseas schedules in 2026 due to back pain and his approaching military enlistment, according to a screenshot shared on Instagram.
The year prior, the K-pop rapper opened up to PEOPLE about his EP Off The Beat — and finding his voice as a solo act.
MONSTA X in Los Angles in December 2021Credit: Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic
"I just don't care about what people think of me, like ‘Oh, the guy from MONSTA X. Oh, the rapper, oh, the long-haired guy, oh, big-nose guy, the nice voice guy,'” he said. "I don't really care because the real me is every moment of me, and I still don't know what I am, but I'm sure that I know me."
“This might sound a bit strange, but I think that's the reason why I'm doing music — to find myself, to write it down myself,” he continued. “Because this time is just this time. Today is just today.”
PEOPLE also spoke to the band upon the release of their album The Dreaming. At the time, SHOWNU was serving in the military but was still part of the band.
When asked about their international fanbase, the band had a humble response.
"To be honest, we didn't think that we made a success," I.M said. KIHYUN then added, "Not yet."
"We just keep moving forward," I.M continued. "We really just want to communicate with our fans in lots of way, because that's why we are using lots of social media like Twitter, Instagram, YouTube. And especially these days, since we can't go out, we would try to use it a lot, try to communicate with our fans a lot."
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
