Suga from BTS had surgery: Will he be able to perform again soon?

BTS’s label Big Hit Entertainment announced that Min Yoon-gi, known as Suga, underwent successful shoulder surgery on November 3, 2020. The update came three days later with word that recovery was underway. Fans absorbed the news knowing Suga would step back from group schedules for the time being.

Comments from Suga & Big Hit

Big Hit stated Suga had surgery for a posterior labral tear on his left shoulder. The injury traced back to a 2012 car accident before his debut. He received an official diagnosis of a dislocated shoulder in 2013 and managed chronic pain for years afterward. Daily tasks such as fully raising his arms or sudden movements often triggered discomfort. Rehabilitation and ongoing treatment continued, yet the pain intensified and led to the operation. Suga posted on the Weverse app in Korean that the procedure had gone well. He wrote, “Fortunately, the surgery went well. My current state is painful, but my mind is quite relieved. I’m away for a while to recover as quickly as possible, but I’ll be back soon. It won’t be that long! Once again sorry and thank you, ARMY!” Three hospitals had recommended the surgery. He apologized to the members and to ARMY for missing scheduled activities. Big Hit noted the timing aligned with preparations for his required military service and post-service work. The surgery proved successful, and recovery involved several months of physical therapy. That decision also supported his later classification for alternative service.

A long-winded battle

ARMY had followed Suga’s shoulder issues through his music and through BTS documentaries. In the 2016 solo track “The Last,” he rapped about the accident that shattered his shoulder during a part-time delivery job. A 2018 episode of Burn the Stage revisited the story. Suga explained he had hidden the injury at first because trainees were not meant to work outside schedules. Once Big Hit learned of the accident, the label supported his treatment. The 2020 surgery resolved the labral tear. Early 2021 updates confirmed he had returned to performances. The injury history later factored into his military service classification.

Military Service Implications

The shoulder condition contributed to a Grade 4 physical rating. That rating directed Suga toward social service rather than active duty. He enlisted in September 2023 and completed his service on June 21, 2025, as the final BTS member to be discharged. The surgery and recovery period allowed focused preparation before and after enlistment.

Long-Term Health Outcome

Recovery progressed gradually through physical therapy. Suga regained the ability to perform at full capacity within months. He resumed high-level solo and group activities after 2021. By 2025 and 2026 observers noted visible strength gains and consistent stage presence.

BTS Group Trajectory Post-2020

The November 2020 album BE and the American Music Awards appearance proceeded without Suga on stage. The group later entered a full military-service hiatus that lasted from 2022 through 2025. All members completed service by June 2025. BTS has since announced plans for a new album and world tour in 2026. Members have spoken about placing greater emphasis on health and long-term enjoyment in their work.

Suga's Solo and Production Work

Creative output continued through recovery and service. Suga released the D-2 mixtape in 2020. He hosted the Suchwita talk show from 2022 to 2023 before enlistment. He maintained songwriting and production credits across multiple projects during the same span.

Suga returned to activities after the initial recovery window and later completed his military obligations. BTS regrouped with fresh projects on the horizon. The shoulder surgery that once paused his schedule ultimately supported a longer career arc. Fans who sent messages of support in 2020 watched the same artist move through recovery, service, and renewed performances with the group intact.