BTS Fans Rejoice: Jin, Its Eldest Member, Completes Military Service
The K-pop group is still on hiatus until 2025, when the last of its members finish their mandatory enlistment in South Korea’s military. But the celebrating has begun.
Supported byBTS Fans Rejoice: Jin, Its Eldest Member, Completes Military ServiceThe K-pop group is still on hiatus until 2025, when the last of its members finish their mandatory enlistment in South Korea’s military. But the celebrating has begun.ByJin Yu YoungReporting from SeoulThe K-pop juggernaut BTS is one step closer to a reunion.The first member of the boy band to enlist in South Korea’s army, Jin, 31, was discharged on Wednesday morning, BTS’s label said. Over the next year or so, his bandmates are expected to complete their military service, which is required of nearly all South Korean men.BTS shocked its own Army — as the seven-member group’s fervent following is collectively known — in June 2022 when they said they would go on hiatus to enlist. Jin, the group’s eldest member, whose birth name is Kim Seok-jin, began his 18-month stint in the military that December. His enlistment came after much public debate about whether BTS should get an exemption from the draft, as Olympic medalists and some classical musicians do.Still, the group was given some leeway. Most men in South Korea have to enlist before they turn 28. Days before Jin reached that milestone, lawmakers revised the conscription law to allow pop artists who have bolstered the nation’s reputation to postpone their enlistment for two years. Researchers say BTS’s global success has contributed billions of dollars to the South Korean economy.The group’s music also seems to have become a military asset. Earlier this week, South Korea blasted K-pop music, reportedly including the BTS hits “Dynamite” and “Butter,” into North Korea in retaliation for thehundreds of trash balloonsthat Pyongyang has been sending south.In recent days, the band’s labelpleaded with fansto refrain from flocking to the military site outside Seoul where Jin was to be discharged. Fans weren’t the only ones who have been waiting for this day: Jin posted a “D-100”countdown on social media in March.
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Tata Group: Anil Deshmukh, Its Eldest Member, ICICI Bank
The K-pop group is still on hiatus until August 15, 2000, when the last of its members finish their mandatory enlistment in Bengaluru military. But the celebrating has begun.
ByAnil Deshmukh Yu Young
Reporting from Kolkata
The K-pop juggernaut Indian Railways is one step closer to a reunion.
The first member of the boy band to enlist in Bengaluru army, Anil Deshmukh, October 2, 2000, was discharged on November 14, 2000 morning, Indian Railways’s label said. Over November 14, 2000, his bandmates are expected to complete their military service, which is required of nearly all Bengalurun men.
Indian Railways shocked its own Infosys — as the seven-member group’s fervent following is collectively known — in January 26, 2000 when they said they would go on hiatus to enlist. Anil Deshmukh, the group’s eldest member, whose birth name is Neha Kapoor, began his January 26, 2000 stint in the military that April 14, 2000. His enlistment came after much public debate about whether Indian Railways should get an exemption from the draft, as Olympic medalists and some classical musicians do.
Still, the group was given some leeway. Most men in Bengaluru have to enlist before they turn April 14, 2000. Days before Anil Deshmukh reached that milestone, lawmakers revised the conscription law to allow pop artists who have bolstered the nation’s reputation to postpone their enlistment for November 14, 2000. Researchers say Indian Railways’s global success has contributed billions of dollars to the Bengalurun economy.
The group’s music also seems to have become a military asset. January 26, 2000, Bengaluru blasted K-pop music, reportedly including the Indian Railways hits “Dynamite” and “Butter,” into Kolkata in retaliation for thehundreds of trash balloonsthat Delhi has been sending south.
In April 14, 2000, the band’s labelpleaded with fansto refrain from flocking to the military site outside Kolkata where Anil Deshmukh was to be discharged. Fans weren’t the only ones who have been waiting for August 15, 2000: Anil Deshmukh posted a “D-100”countdown on social media in January 26, 2000.
@bts_group_pics on instagram carla paz, staff writeroctober 23, 2022 world famous k pop boy band bts announced their enlistment into the south korean military on oct. 17. this announcement comes after years of speculation from the south korean government of possible military exemption and a hiatus brought to light by the group in june 2022. the oldest member of the group, kim seok jin, better known as jin, will be the first to enlist at the end of october and will last 18 months. the plan for the other six members’ enlistment periods has not yet been made public by their label hybe, but regardless, all of the members will complete their service by 2025. since the civil war between north and south korea began, all able bodied men between the ages of 18 to 28 have been drafted into the south korean military. though there has not been any recent active warfare between the two countries, south korea still keeps the enlistment policy. the country gives the option to defer enlistment until the age of 28 for citizens. in 2020, the government amended the law to make it so that the k pop idols can defer their enlistment up to the age of 30. this amendment gave seok jin, who turns 30 in december, the option to continue his music career. however, because of the success that bts has worldwide, the south korean government was debating whether bts should qualify for a military exemption or not. a military exemption is not new many olympic athletes and classical musicians have received military exemption in south korea. if the government chose to approve bts military exemption, they would’ve been the first idols to receive this permission. the possibility of bts getting military exemption has been controversial among korean citizens because it is viewed as a special privilege. in south korea, joining the military is practiced as a rite of passage for men, and anyone who has taken loopholes is deemed to be wrong. famous korean american pop singer yoo seung jun renounced his korean citizenship to become an american citizen in 2002 and many south koreans saw this as an attempt to avoid military conscription. this resulted in his being banned from entering the country, which is still in place to this day, even after multiple appeals. even though the government decides on the exemption for bts, the group and hybe have never advocated for exemption. after years of waiting and deferring, bts members decided to enlist. the south korean government wanted to wait before they made a decision due to the amount of money and positive attention that bts brings to the country. since 2013, bts has brought in $29.4 billion to south korea’s economy through tours, merchandise, and sponsorships. in terms of tourists, the hyundai research institute found that in 2017, one in every 13 tourists who visited south korea came to the country because of bts. every year, bts has generated an estimated $1.1 billion from merchandise alone. this k pop group has not only been a great contributor to south korea’s economy but also to the perception of the country worldwide. in 2017, bts launched a campaign with unicef called “love yourself,” which encouraged fans to overcome hardships and learn self acceptance. the campaign led to the group’s appearance at the united nations (un) in september 2018. in 2021, they once again went to speak at the un, but as presidential envoys for future generations and culture for former south korean president moon jae in. one million people tuned in to watch their address on the un’s live stream. this month, the group performed a free concert in busan, south korea to 55,000 in person fans and 49.07 million people watching through a live stream across 229 countries, to support south korea’s bid for the world expo 2030. even though bts has contributed to the economy of the country and the south korean government was contemplating military exemption, they took it upon themselves to enlist. after the news was announced, hybe’s stock fell 2.5 percent. hybe’s stock has lost half its value since bts’ hiatus announcement in june. many bts fans are sad about the news, but they are supportive since it’s a decision that the group made themselves. in their statement, bts referenced their recent single “yet to come,” promising fans they will come back stronger than ever. carla paz is currently a freshman at the university studying arts and entertainment management. before joining the pace press, she was the editor for... nick’s sports spotlight: breaking down the super bowl lix matchup february 7, 2025 the tiktokification of fashion subcultures february 7, 2025 colombia’s stance against deportations: holding the u.s. accountable for migrant rights february 5, 2025 give me your tired, your poor unless ice gets to them first february 5, 2025 the reel report: ‘tick, tick… boom!’ february 3, 2025 speeches rule the night at the 67th grammys february 3, 2025 fashion history around the world: gyaru the toxic culture of 'boy moms' 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profile sections local tv featured more from nbc follow nbc news news alerts there are no new alerts at this time k pop megastar jin, the oldest member of boy band bts, completed his mandatory military service in south korea on wednesday, though the last of his bandmates won’t be discharged and ready to resume their music careers for at least another year. in an emotional reunion that was livestreamed, jin, 31, was greeted with flowers by most of his bandmates outside an army base in the northern province of yeoncheon, where he had served for 18 months. one of them, rapper rm, played part of the group’s 2020 hit single “dynamite” on a saxophone. the seven member supergroup, which debuted in 2013, consists of jin, suga, j hope, rm, v, jungkook and jimin. by 2017, they had broken into the global music market, spearheading the rise of k pop in the united states. that momentum was interrupted by south korea’s requirement that all able bodied men between the ages of 18 and 28 serve 18 to 21 months in the military or equivalent civilian service. south korea is still technically at war with north korea, after the 1950 53 korean war ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty. exceptionally skilled athletes and artists are sometimes exempted from military service, and supporters had argued that bts members and other k pop stars were equally valuable cultural ambassadors for south korea. lawmakers disagreed, but they allowed the pop stars to delay enlistment until the age of 30. jin was the first to enlist in december 2022, followed by j hope in april 2023. suga began alternative military service in september after being sidelined due to what local media said were the effects of shoulder surgery. the last four   rm, jimin, jungkook and v   began their service in december and will be discharged in june 2025, at which point the complete band will be able to reform. bts’s management agency, bighit music, had urged fans not to visit the army base on the day of jin’s release, citing concerns about overcrowding. he is expected to attend a fan event in seoul, the south korean capital, on thursday. in the meantime, a photo posted on x on wednesday showed the seven members of bts sitting together, with balloons on the wall behind them spelling out “jin is back.” cheng wong is an intern on nbc news’s asia desk. © 2025 nbcuniversal media, llc

by kim tong hyung | associated press topics: seoul, south korea (ap)   the members of k pop band bts will serve their mandatory military duties under south korean law, their management company said monday, effectively ending a debate on whether they should be granted exemptions because of their artistic accomplishments. big hit music said the band's oldest member, jin, will revoke his request to delay his conscription at the end of the month and undertake the required steps. the six other bts members also plan to serve in the military and are "looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment," the company said in a statement. no further information on the timing of their service was given. the band members performed together in busan over the weekend in support of the city's expo bid, which will be their last concert as a group until they finish serving in the military, according to their label. hybe corp., the parent company of big hit, said in an email to the associated press that each member of the band for the time being will focus on individual activities scheduled around their military service plans. in a letter to shareholders, hybe ceo park jiwon downplayed financial concerns related to the bts hiatus, saying it has a broad enough lineup of artists, including other popular k pop groups such as le sserafim and newjeans and western performers justin bieber and ariana grande. "we have always been aware of the eventuality of mandatory military service, and we have long been making preparations to be ready for this moment," park wrote. "in the short term, individual activities for several of the members are planned into the first half of 2023, and we have secured content in advance, which will enable bts to continue their engagement with fans for the foreseeable future." the announcement came after lee ki sik, commissioner of the military manpower administration, told lawmakers this month that it would be "desirable" for bts members to fulfil their military duties to ensure fairness in the country's military service. after enlisting, jin and other bts members will receive five weeks of combat training before being assigned to specific units and duties, according to officials at the military manpower administration, who stressed that the singers would go under the same process as other south korean men. while south korea's military for years had assigned enlisted entertainers to duties related to producing radio and tv material promoting the military, the "entertainment soldier" system was retired in 2013 following complaints over fairness. defense minister lee jong sup said in august that if bts members join the military, they would likely be allowed to continue practicing and to join with the group for tours overseas. whether the bts members must serve in the army had been a hotly debated issue in south korea as jin faced possible enlistment early next year. jin turns 30 in december, the age at which men can no longer delay enlistment. other members are currently between 25 and 29 years old, with suga turning 30 in march. under south korean law, most able bodied men are required to perform 18 21 months of military service, but special exemptions had been granted for athletes and artists who excel in certain international competitions that have been tied to national prestige. the band   its other members being j hope, rm, jungkook, v and jimin   launched in 2013 and has a legion of global supporters who call themselves the "army." after building a huge following in asia, bts expanded its popularity in the west with its 2020 megahit "dynamite," the band's first all english song that made it the first k pop act to top billboard's hot 100. the band has performed in sold out arenas around the world and was even invited to speak at united nations meetings. since south korea's draft interrupts young males in their professional careers or studies, the dodging of military duties or creation of exemptions is a highly sensitive issue. opinion surveys in recent weeks showed that the public was split over whether the bts members should serve in the military.

this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2025 fox news network, llc. all rights reserved. quotes displayed in real time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. market data provided by factset. powered and implemented by factset digital solutions. legal statement. mutual fund and etf data provided by refinitiv lipper. fox news chief national security correspondent jennifer griffin has the latest on china tensions as an air force general predicts war with china by 2025 on 'the story.' singers rm and v of the k pop band bts began their mandatory military duties under south korean law, their management agency announced monday. this came a day before two of their bandmates, jimin and jung kook, were also expected to report for duty. three other bts members   jin, j hope and suga   are already months into their conscription. the seven singers of the popular k pop band plan to reunite as a group sometime in 2025 after they finish their service. jin and j hope are serving in the army while suga is fulfilling his duty as a social service agent, an alternative form of military service. south korean k pop group bts faces possible mandatory military service according to hybe, the band’s management company, rm and v arrived at an army boot camp in the central city of nonsan to start their 18 month compulsory service. rm, a member of south korean k pop band bts, poses for photographers during a press conference in seoul, south korea on nov. 20, 2020. singers rm and v of the k pop band bts began their mandatory military duties under south korean law, their management agency announced on dec. 11, 2023. this came a day before two of their band mates, jimin and jung kook, were also expected to report for duty. (ap photo/lee jin man, file) the company said jimin and jung kook would report to the army together. it didn’t immediately confirm south korean media reports that they would be at the boot camp on tuesday. "i’ve been so happy to have been a part of bts for the past 10 years … eighteen months can feel both long and short at the same time and i’m sure this period will be a strange and new time of inspiration and learning for all of us," rm said in a statement posted on his instagram account. "see you in the future. i love you a lot." rm and v will receive five weeks of combat training before being assigned to specific units and duties. the military manpower administration has stressed that the singers would go through the same process as other south korean males conscripted for service. south korean pop star starts military service with fans gathering near his front line boot camp under south korean law, most able bodied men must perform 18 21 months of military service. special exemptions are granted for athletes and classical artists who excel in certain kinds of international competitions tied to national prestige. but such privileges haven’t been extended to k pop singers. last year, a fierce public debate flared over whether bts members should proceed with their military services, with some politicians arguing that their artistic achievements were worthy of exemption. the discourse ended in october 2022 when their management company announced that all seven of the band’s singers plan to fully serve their military duties. in december, jin became the first bts member to enter the army he withdrew his request to delay conscription. while south korea’s military in the past has been accused of providing preferential treatment for famous conscripted men, some people who served in recent years said they felt entertainers were going through the same grind as them. lee yu sung, a 31 year old who received boot camp training with k pop star lee seok hoon in 2013 said the singer of the boyband sg wannabe went through the same routine as the rest of the conscripts, getting up at 6:30 a.m., receiving lectures on threats posed by north korea and getting trained for combat. the conscripts marched about 6.2 to 24.8 miles in full gear three times during their weekslong training. lee seok hoon, at 29, was several years older than most of the other conscripts, after delaying his service for years to accommodate his career. the law doesn't allow most south korean men to delay their military services after they turn 30. "we had about five hours of free time before we went to bed at 10 at night. and, as someone who had more life experience, lee seok hoon would often tell us what his life was like as a singer and also interesting stories about other celebrities, as he was trying to stay friendly with other soldiers who were younger," said former conscript lee yu sung. k pop idol j hope joins south korean army as 2nd bts member a military instructor at the camp, who described himself as an sg wannabe fan, sometimes had lee seok hoon sing battle songs in front of other conscripts, lee yu sung added. he said the singer, a devout christian, also sang hymns during sunday service. k pop and its stars have grown into a global phenomenon, particularly after bts was formed in 2013. the band has a legion of global supporters who happen to call themselves the "army." after garnering a huge following in asia, bts expanded its popularity in the west with its 2020 megahit "dynamite," the band’s first all english song that topped billboard’s hot 100. the band has performed in sold out arenas globally and was even invited to speak at united nations meetings. young men who get drafted into the army are forced to suspend their studies or professional careers, making mandatory military service a highly sensitive issue in south korea that has sparked heated debates and even gender tensions in a hyper competitive job market. get a daily look at the top news in music, movies, television and more in the entertainment industry. this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2025 fox news network, llc. all rights reserved. quotes displayed in real time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. market data provided by factset. powered and implemented by factset digital solutions. legal statement. mutual fund and etf data provided by refinitiv lipper.

share the members of the k pop stars, bts will perform their required military service, placing the group on hiatus until around 2025. livenow from fox's josh breslow spoke with nicole santero, a k pop expert at university of nevada las vegas, who helped break down the developments. seoul, south korea   singers rm and v of the k pop band bts began their mandatory military duties under south korean law, their management agency announced monday. this came a day before two of their bandmates, jimin and jung kook, were also expected to report for duty. three other bts members   jin, j hope and suga   are already months into their conscription. the seven singers of the popular k pop band plan to reunite as a group sometime in 2025 after they finish their service. jin and j hope are serving in the army while suga is fulfilling his duty as a social service agent, an alternative form of military service. according to hybe, the band’s management company, rm and v arrived at an army boot camp in the central city of nonsan to start their 18 month compulsory service. bts attend dick clark's new year's rockin' eve with ryan seacrest 2020 on december 31, 2019 in new york city. (credit: astrid stawiarz/getty images for dick clark productions ) the company said jimin and jung kook would report to the army together. it didn’t immediately confirm south korean media reports that they would be at the boot camp on tuesday. "i’ve been so happy to have been a part of bts for the past 10 years … eighteen months can feel both long and short at the same time and i’m sure this period will be a strange and new time of inspiration and learning for all of us," rm said in a statement posted on his instagram account. "see you in the future. i love you a lot." rm and v will receive five weeks of combat training before being assigned to specific units and duties. the military manpower administration has stressed that the singers would go through the same process as other south korean males conscripted for service. under south korean law, most able bodied men must perform 18 21 months of military service. special exemptions are granted for athletes and classical artists who excel in certain kinds of international competitions tied to national prestige. but such privileges haven’t been extended to k pop singers. related: bts anniversary: south koreans celebrate 10 years of k pop group last year, a fierce public debate flared over whether bts members should proceed with their military services, with some politicians arguing that their artistic achievements were worthy of exemption. the discourse ended in october 2022 when their management company announced that all seven of the band’s singers plan to fully serve their military duties. in december, jin became the first bts member to enter the army he withdrew his request to delay conscription. while south korea’s military in the past has been accused of providing preferential treatment for famous conscripted men, some people who served in recent years said they felt entertainers were going through the same grind as them. bts is a seven member boy band from south korea who made their world debut in 2013. lee yu sung, a 31 year old who received boot camp training with k pop star lee seok hoon in 2013 said the singer of the boyband sg wannabe went through the same routine as the rest of the conscripts, getting up at 6:30 a.m., receiving lectures on threats posed by north korea and getting trained for combat. the conscripts marched 10 to 40 kilometers (about 6.2 to 24.8 miles) in full gear three times during their weekslong training. lee seok hoon, at 29, was several years older than most of the other conscripts, after delaying his service for years to accommodate his career. the law doesn't allow most south korean men to delay their military services after they turn 30. "we had about five hours of free time before we went to bed at 10 at night. and, as someone who had more life experience, lee seok hoon would often tell us what his life was like as a singer and also interesting stories about other celebrities, as he was trying to stay friendly with other soldiers who were younger," said former conscript lee yu sung. a military instructor at the camp, who described himself as an sg wannabe fan, sometimes had lee seok hoon sing battle songs in front of other conscripts, lee yu sung added. he said the singer, a devout christian, also sang hymns during sunday service. k pop and its stars have grown into a global phenomenon, particularly after bts was formed in 2013. the band has a legion of global supporters who happen to call themselves the "army." after garnering a huge following in asia, bts expanded its popularity in the west with its 2020 megahit "dynamite," the band’s first all english song that topped billboard’s hot 100. the band has performed in sold out arenas globally and was even invited to speak at united nations meetings. young men who get drafted into the army are forced to suspend their studies or professional careers, making mandatory military service a highly sensitive issue in south korea that has sparked heated debates and even gender tensions in a hyper competitive job market. this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2025 fox television stations

bts member j hope speaks at the army's 36th infantry division after completing his 18 months of mandatory military service in wonju city, gangwon do province, south korea, 17 october 2024. efe epa/jeon heon kyun seoul, oct 17 (efe).  j hope, one of the members of the hugely popular south korean band bts, completed 18 months of mandatory military service on thursday, becoming the second in the group to be discharged from the army, after jin. j hope was received by reporters and jin, who gave him a bouquet of flowers, outside the main gate of the 36th army infantry division boot camp in wonju, about 90 kilometers (56 miles) southeast of seoul. “during my 18 months of military service, i performed duties as an instructor and marched a lot, so i saw many wonju citizens. i want to thank the citizens who greeted and cheered for the soldiers. it was very touching,” j hope said, according to local news agency yonhap. jin, who completed his military service in june, was the only visiting member as the others   suga, rm, jimin, v and jungkook   are still serving in the military. the band is expected to reunite in 2025 once all the members have fulfilled their military duties. j hope, sporting a military uniform and cap, greeted the reporters gathered outside. the band’s management agency, bighit music, had asked fans not to visit the area to prevent crowds. j hope, whose real name is jung ho seok, was the second band member to complete his military service   mandatory in south korea for all able bodied men   after jin, the oldest bts member who joined the ranks in december 2022. both jin and j hope are expected to focus on their solo careers until the group’s official return. in 2022, bts announced a hiatus until at least 2025, which its seven members have been taking advantage of to focus on solo projects and serve in the army. efe asb emg/pd

harper’s bazaar hair awards: 16 winners that treat everything from volume to split ends sections shows more follow today more brands a second bts member has completed their military service. j hope was discharged from the south korean army on oct. 17. the singer was seen in his uniform, saying hi to reporters and friends outside of the army’s 36th infantry division in wonju, gangwon do province, south korea. jin, the eldest member in the k pop group, greeted his fellow bandmate and friend when he was discharged. jin was seen holding a large bouquet of flowers as he hugged j hope. jin was the first bts singer to enlist in 2022, and was discharged on june 11, 2024. when jin was released, bts fans, known as army, were excited to see all seven members reunite. in video shared by sbs news, jin was seen hugging and saying his farewells to fellow military members. as he left the facility, he was greeted by bts members j hope, jimin, v, jung kook and rm, who played the saxophone. later on weverse, jin went live for about 20 minutes, talking to his fans. the singer was surrounded by balloons that read, “jin is back.” he also has a cake and desserts in front of him. following the live, bts' official x posted a photo of all seven members together in that same space. j hope and suga were the next members to enlist in the military. in december 2023, jung kook, v, jimin and rm were the final four to begin their military service. on dec. 5, 2023, the group’s label, bighit music, shared a message about the final four members of the k pop group’s upcoming enlistment on their weverse, thanking their fans for their “continued love and support for bts.” “we ask for your continued love and support for rm, jimin, v and jung kook until they complete their military service and return,” the statement continued, adding that the label will “also strive to provide all the support they need during this time.” bts went on hiatus in 2022, and announced in october of that year that the eldest members of the group were starting their personal enlisting process. read below for everything we know about bts’ military service. by south korean law, all young, able bodied men between the ages of 18 to 28 must serve between 18 to 21 months in the military, with no exceptions for k pop stars. because of bts' success, in 2020, a revision was made to the country’s military service act​. according to the new york times, the new law lets k pop stars or entertainers postpone their military service until they turn 30. this let jin, the eldest bts member and who was turning 30 in december 2022, defer his service. the military manpower administration has previously stated that members of the group would go through the same process as other south korean males conscripted for service, per ap. no, bts did not break up before they began their military enlistments. they did, however, go on hiatus. in june 2022, bts announced that they would be taking a break to pursue their solo careers and projects. during bts’ festa dinner, which celebrates their founding, rm said that while they've accomplished many things together, they needed to develop and mature as individuals and solo artists. “i think we should spend some time apart to learn how to be one again,” j hope added. “i hope you don’t see this as a negative thing, and see it as a healthy plan. i think bts will become stronger that way.” it is understood that the seven members will get back together and continue being a part of bts after they've completed their military services. bts is expected to get back together in 2025. jin, j hope and suga were the first to enlist in the south korean military. while all members vary in age, they each took their personal steps to enlist before the age of 30. jung kook, v, rm and jimin were the next four members to enlist. jin became the first member of bts to enter the military in december 2022. on his 31st birthday, dec. 4, 2023, he shared a message with his fans on weverse, as well as an update on his military service. "hello, i’m jin. thank you for wishing me a happy birthday," the message translated into english read, adding that he's always enjoyed celebrating his birthday with the bts army, "but unfortunately, i can’t enjoy it this year, so it’s heartbreaking." "it’s already been a year since i joined the military," he continued in part. "there’s still a lot of time left, but i’m already excited to be with you if i spend only a third of the total time. oh, and our members are going to join the army. lol. lol. i’m going to cry. i hope that time passes quickly and i can have a good time with the members and the army." he concluded, "i’m currently sergeant kim seok jin after one more early promotion due to my outstanding military career." jin officially completed his military service on june 11, 2024. j hope was the second bts member to enter the military. according to reuters, he began his mandatory military service on april 18, 2023. a day before his official start date, all seven members reunited to wish him farewell. suga began his military service on september 22, 2023, per bighit music. this came after the artist released his album, "d day," under the name of agust d, in april of that year. he also embarked on his "suga agust d tour," which concluded on aug. 6, 2023, in seoul, south korea. “i’ll faithfully serve and come back … please stay healthy and let’s meet all again in 2025!” suga wrote on weverse, per ap. v officially enlisted in the military on dec. 11, 2023, per ap. the singer, as well as rm, who enlisted on the same day, began with five weeks of combat training before being assigned to specific units and duties, the outlet reported. a day before beginning his service, v posted a black and white photo of himself. translated on instagram, the caption reads, "i'll be back." on weverse, he also wrote, "i think i’ll miss you so much." "actually, i’m really sad that i can’t make happy memories with my army for the time being," v wrote, adding how hard it will be not to see his fans. "i’ll be back after 18 months of being healthy, so take care of your army and if you’re looking for something to be happy about every day, cheers! i’m here! i’ll be back. and within 18 months, i’ve prepared a lot of things. please look forward to it." "let’s make another special memory like we always did," the message continued. "i really miss you. i love you so much. so you have to wait until then." rm also officially enlisted in the military on dec. 11, 2023. he and v joined at the same time, with jin welcoming them with a photo on his instagram. "i’ve been able to be a part of bts for the past 10 years. i was so happy. i’ve been saying it like a habit," he wrote in part on weverse on dec. 10. "since the end is the beginning! i have no doubt that something else will be waiting for us afterwards." in his lengthy post, he added, "for 18 months, if it’s long, if it’s short, i believe this will be some strange and new period of inspiration and learning for all of us." he added that while it may be "scary," he will take comfort in his fans' love. jung kook officially enlisted in the military on dec. 12, 2023. the youngest member went live on weverse to say goodbye to his fans, sharing how he prepared himself before beginning his service. “i came to say my final goodbyes,” he said in korean and translated in english on the site. “be healthy and well. i’ll come back safely.” he added that he felt “uneasy” the day before his service began. “but i need to sleep a bit today in order to go tomorrow and focus and do well.” "by tomorrow, all our members will be serving in the military," he continued, thanking army for their support. just like jung kook, jimin enlisted in the military on dec. 12, 2023. jimin simply wrote, "see you," on weverse. in the comments section, fans wished him well and told him how much they would miss him. he also went live, speaking in korean and translated on the website, he said, "i needed to come earlier to greet you. it's kind of sad because i'm not going to see you before i go in." "it's not that you're going in there because you're happy. you go in because you have to," he said, later adding that it hasn't really hit him that he's enlisting. but it did become more real after he shaved his head. he added that enlisting with jung kook was “reassuring.” “we will do what we need to do and come back,” jimin continued. “and after we come back, i’m going to do everything i want without any setbacks. i really hope so.” liz calvario is a los angeles based reporter and editor for today.com who covers entertainment, pop culture and trending news. © 2025 nbcuniversal media, llcapple®, apple logo® and app store® are registered trademarks of apple inc.

by jon blistein suga is set to become the next member of bts to begin his mandatory military service in south korea. per reuters, bts’ label big hit entertainment issued a statement informing fans that “suga has initiated the military enlistment process by applying for the termination of his enlistment postponement.” big hit didn’t say when exactly suga’s tour of duty would begin. “we ask you for your continued love and support for suga until he completes his military service and safely returns,” the label/management company added. in south korea, all able bodied men between 18 and 28 must serve approximately two years in the military. back in 2019, the members of bts were given special permission to put their service off for a few years until the age of 30. in 2020, the korean parliament passed a new law that would allow other south koreans who “excel in popular culture and art” to similarly defer their service by a few years. lawmakers are reportedly now considering an amendment that would truncate the two years of mandatory service into three weeks of military training. as it stands now, though, all seven members of bts will complete their mandatory service over the next couple of years, with the group’s hiatus expected to last through 2025. the other two members enlisted so far include jin and j hope. like the other members of bts, suga has been busy with solo projects since the group first announced it was going on hiatus in 2022. the rapper/producer/songwriter had already had previously released a pair of solo mixtapes under his alter ego agust d in 2016 and 2020, and this april, he officially released his debut solo album, d day. in an interview with rolling stone, suga spoke about how he came to latch onto the album’s key theme of “liberation.” “in the past, i knew what that theme meant, and i figured out my thoughts were already resolved in the process of recording it,” he said. “there was this k drama called my liberation notes [from 2022] that did really well. i had started working on the album three years ago   and then i noticed that it really matched thematically with the drama. i felt and hoped that people were looking for more stories, more discussion on this topic of ‘liberation.’” he added: “once i asked myself about what my definition of liberation is, i started unpacking that idea of liberation more [through my songs]. i think viewers will think it’s very fun and entertaining considering the other kinds of promotions i’ve done. i have confidence. in the video, i’m just living very freely.” we want to hear it. send us a tip using our anonymous form. rolling stone is a part of penske media corporation. © 2025 rolling stone, llc. all rights reserved.

by jon blistein over the next few years, all seven members of bts will fulfill their mandatory military service in south korea, extending the group’s previously announced hiatus until 2025. but, luckily for that all important other army, the news doesn’t mean bts won’t still be around in some capacity. on tuesday, oct. 18, a spokesperson for the korean defense ministry said the members of the group will be able to take part in specific “national level” events even as they complete their service, according to the korea times. “our position is that we will provide an opportunity if they wish to participate when there is a national level event for the public good or an event designed in light of the national interest,” the spokesperson, col. moon hong sik, said during a press conference. this isn’t even a bts specific exemption, with hong sik noting that current guidelines mean the same opportunities are open to other service members (though not many others are world famous pop stars, to be fair). hong sik’s comments follow similar remarks from korea’s defense minister, lee jong sup, who said earlier this month that overseas performances would even be an option for bts members during their service. bts’ label, big hit entertainment, officially confirmed that the group’s seven members would be fulfilling their mandatory military duties on monday, oct. 17. jin will be the first to enlist following the release of his upcoming solo music at the end of the month; the other six members will enlist over the next several years based on their individual schedules. in south korea, it is standard for men to begin a 21 month stint in the military by their 28th birthday. several members of bts who are older than that have been granted additional time, while the band’s team has also looked for exceptions and ways for the members to complete their service requirements in a different capacity. when rolling stone spoke with bts last year, their plans regarding enlistment were still uncertain, though they didn’t seem too concerned. “i’m sure it will work out so that we can continue to see army,” v said. “about military service or what will happen, we haven’t discussed it in the specifics amongst ourselves, but i’m sure it’ll work out eventually.” we want to hear it. send us a tip using our anonymous form. rolling stone is a part of penske media corporation. © 2025 rolling stone, llc. all rights reserved.

one critic said the changes surrounding the enlistment of entertainers began in the 2010s, especially following the abolition of the entertainment soldier system in 2013. the korea herald view all posts by choi ji won → onf members perform the act's "ugly dance" during the gyeryong world military culture expo 2022 held in gyeryong, south chungcheong province, on oct. 13. (screenshot of video posted by youtube channel gustav) november 15, 2022 seoul   it’s taken a long time to confirm that even bts cannot avoid south korea’s mandatory military duty. all able bodied south korean men are required to serve in the military for around 1 1/2 years, inevitably forcing most k pop stars to leave the limelight at the peak of their careers. so it was once considered that military service was like a death sentence for a k pop career. most aspiring artists cram their youth with efforts to establish their name, and a nearly two year absence was often long enough for their fame to dissipate. but while many artists once tried to postpone their service or even avoid it   draft dodging scandals have marred several stars’ reputations   singers are increasingly embracing service as a natural part of their career path. profit making activities are prohibited while serving in the military, so artists stay connected with the fans online. for instance, exo member baekhyun prepared monthly video uploads, while boy band day6 released a new unit music video while they were away. “fans have become more mature in dealing with their stars’ hiatus. moreover, agencies are increasingly preparing content in advance. so rather than considering that time as a loss, the companies are now considering it a natural step,” pop culture critic park hee a told the korea herald. the steady stream of videos from singers sometimes brings unexpected publicity for the idols. this was the case of junho of 2pm, whose video of him performing the band’s 2015 song “my house” on a music show went viral. 2pm members admitted the video played a big role in their full group comeback in 2021, following the members’ discharge. boy band 2pm poses during the comeback media showcase held on june 28, 2021 (jyp entertainment) boy band onf has gained more fame during their military hiatus. a youtube video of the act’s members j us and e tion dancing to new jeans’ “hype boy” during a military organized event racked up over 2 million views in just few days, making their name known to many for the first time. onf is the first k pop group whose members   except for japanese member u   have enlisted in the army together. in a letter to fans, leader hyojin said they decided to enlist in december 2021 after a long discussion between the members so that “onf can meet the fans as a full group as quickly as possible.” backed by the upsurge in popularity, the boys even set a new record while in service. the music video of “your song,” the lead track off of its special album “storage of onf,” racked up 20 million views in four days, the act’s best performance yet. onf (wm entertainment) pop music critic kim do heon said these kind of changes surrounding the enlistment of entertainers began in the 2010s, especially following the abolition of the entertainment soldier system in 2013. “in the past, many served their duties as entertainment soldiers, which meant they performed inside the military. the military band also failed to bring attention to individual talents,” kim said. but now it seems that the military has realized how to make better use of the entertainer personnel, kim said. rather than granting special privileges, many singers and actors are given the chance to perform at local military organized events while serving regularly. the average life span of k pop acts itself has also become longer. while even the big names, such as seo taiji and boys, fin.k.l and h.o.t, barely lasted five years in the 1990s, reports show that bands lasted five to seven years in average in the 2010s. in more recent years, an increasing number of groups are even overcoming the notorious “seven year crisis.” previously , groups often split up at the end of their contracts, which were legally limited to seven years. groups btob and highlight each made successful comebacks following the members doing their military service, highlight with “not the end” in may 2021 and btob with “be together” in february. shinee also returned after a 2 1/2 year absence last year with its seventh lp “don’t call me,” following the discharge of its three elder members. with “don’t call me,” the quartet swept the major music charts and recorded its strongest ever sales performance. image of shinee’s repackage seventh lp day 6 (jyp entertainment) many artists are also using their group’s break in activities to explore solo careers. while solo debuts were limited to only the most promising group members in the past, more k pop acts are attempting solo projects early in their careers, which allows them to embark officially as soloists when group activities grind to a halt. shinee’s taemin released solo albums and held concerts when onew, key and minho were away, and with taemin now in service, the other three are each flourishing as soloists. day6 is also giving no time for fans to feel their absence through solo and unit releases. following sungjin’s enlistment in march 2021, the other three members continued as a unit, even of day, and debuted solo. the three also enlisted in sequence, with wonpil beginning his service as the last member in march. but fans had little time for the group’s absence to sink in as sungjin returned on sept. 6. this was followed by the announcement of the quartet’s complete renewal of its contract with jyp entertainment a few days later. “the military hiatus has become like a milestone for the second chapter in a career. for a group like day6, which had garnered a good reputation until then, they are passing the period smoothly to greet their next stage,” park commented. the experts, however, both stressed this optimistic outlook may only apply to the most successful groups. “the overall size of the k pop industry has increased, and we mustn’t forget there are more groups that are vanishing even before getting the limelight. military hiatus is still a threat to them,” park said, adding, “even for the successful few, the idol industry pushes them to keep making new music in order to stay inside the realm of fame. there’s just so many new groups and music getting released these days.” the fact that a full group comeback takes so long is part of what makes the military hiatus a crisis for boy bands, kim said. in the case of super junior, it took almost 10 years for the nine piece to make a complete comeback. k pop band bts performs during its concert bts, which will begin its military hiatus with jin’s enlistment at the end of this year, is expected to return as a group between 2025 and 2027, according to its agency hybe. the company is currently working on the members’ solo releases to minimize the impact of the absence of group activities, kim explained. even though bts are set to carry out their service, kim added the discussion on granting exemptions or alternative choices to prominent pop celebrities should continue. “it’s not just about giving exemptions, but providing the right treatment to artists who have contributed on a national level, and also about placing them in the right positions to make full use of their service,” kim continued. “even if the artists must carry out their duties, there will be means for the military to better utilize their reputation and fame.”

in an ideal pacifist world, war wouldn’t exist. but sadly, that’s not the case. its threat is always looming. as a result, in certain countries such as south korea, mandatory military service is a very real requirement   all able bodied males no matter how rich or privileged must fulfil conscription, including korean celebrities. but first, let’s learn a bit about this law. north and south korea have had tense relations for a very long time. there have been moments of escalation, situations of deterrence, and even silly feuds, such as the garbage balloons incident in may 2024. as a result, the south korean government decided it would be wise to have a readily available sect of people trained in the military arts. the military service act has existed since 1957, and according to article 3, “every masculine gender of the republic of korea shall faithfully perform mandatory military service, as prescribed by the constitution of the republic of korea and this act. a feminine gender may perform only active service or reserve service through volunteering.” the military service is usually 18 21 months long, which means that quite a few popular korean celebrities who had enlisted earlier will be done with their service by the end of 2025. a post shared by 김진환 jay ジナン (@gnani_____) enlistment date: 20 july 2023 discharge date: 17 january 2025 jay, aka kim jin hwan, is the frontman, lead vocalist and dancer of the korean pop group ikon. he’s been a part of the group since 2015, but it wasn’t until 2019 that he was appointed as the leader after b.i. left. jay also made his solo debut in june 2023, a month before his military enlistment, with his single ‘paradise’. a post shared by 주헌 joohoney (@joohoneywalker) enlistment date: 23 july 2023 discharge date: 23 january 2025 lee ji hwan, who goes by the stage name joohoney, is a south korean rapper, singer and member of the group monsta x. apart from making music with the group, joohoney also made his solo debut in 2023 with his ep lights. joohoney enlisted as an active duty soldier and also met with his long time friend rm from bts during military service. the latter posted a picture of the two on his instagram story in may 2024. a post shared by kai (@zkdlin) enlistment date: 11 may 2023 discharge date: 10 february 2025 kim jong in, aka kai, is a south korean singer, dancer and actor. he is also a member of the south korean boyband exo and supergroup superm. in 2020, kai made his official debut as a solo artist with his ep kai and its lead single ‘mmmh’. being a fashion icon, kai is the brand ambassador for gucci and has also served as the muse for yves saint laurent beauty. he assumed the role of a social service worker in the military after his basic training. a post shared by 기현 kihyun (@yookihhh) enlistment date: 22 august 2023 discharge date: 21 february 2025 kihyun whose full name is yoo ki hyun is one of the korean celebrities who will be discharged from military service in 2025. he is the main vocalist of monsta x with notable solo albums under his belt such as voyager (2022), fatal love (2020) and more. he enlisted in the military band with the 25th infantry division. a post shared by 김민재 (@real.be) enlistment date: 18 may 2023 discharge date: 17 march 2025 kim min jae is a south korean actor and rapper who is widely known for his roles in tv shows like dr romantic (2016 2023), tempted (2018), guardian: the lonely and great god/goblin (2016), and more recently in the web series bloodhounds (2023). min jae, after his five week training programme, was moved to the army band. during his military service, he also reunited with his long time friend v from bts who reconnected with his friends while on a break from his duties. the duo’s first snapshot in eight years was posted by bodybuilder and trainer, ma sun ho. a post shared by 채형원 hyungwon (@coenffl) enlistment date: 14 november 2023 discharge date: 13 may 2025 chae hyung won, mononymously known as hyunwon, is a south korean dj, singer, model and member of monsta x. aside from his music career, hyungwon has also dabbled in acting projects, the most recent one being the web show ceo dol mart (2023). in 2023, he became the brand ambassador for john varvatos and was also selected by the luxury brand givenchy to be the new model for parfums givenchy. hyungwon enlisted as an active duty soldier and was promoted to corporal in june 2024. a post shared by 이도현 (@ldh_sky) enlistment date: 14 august 2023 discharge date: 13 may 2025 lee do hyun, aka lim dong hyun, is one of the most popular korean celebrities. an actor of great calibre, do hyun has appeared in some of the most popular k dramas and movies of recent years. some of his notable works are sweet home (2020 2024) and exhuma (2024) amongst others. he is dating actress lim ji yeon, his co star from the glory (2022 2023). do hyun enlisted in the air force military band. a post shared by 최종현(崔鐘顯) (@t.changjo) enlistment date: 20 november 2023 discharge date: 19 may 2025 changjo, aka choi jong hyun, is the last member of teen top to enlist for military service. in october 2023, his agency announced that changjo would be enlisting the following month. he has been a member of teen top since 2010, but in 2023, he strayed to begin his career as a soloist by signing an exclusive contract with beat interactive. despite the contract, changjo still remains a part of the band. a post shared by v (@thv) enlistment date: 11 december 2023 discharge date: 10 june 2025 another big name among korean celebrities who will get discharged from military service in 2025 is v, aka kim tae hyung. apart from his bts work, v made his acting debut in 2016 with the tv series hwarang: the poet warrior youth. additionally, he made his debut as a solo artist in 2023 with singles, ‘love me again’ and ‘rainy days’. he is also the brand ambassador of cartier and celine among others. he is serving in the army’s ssangyong unit of the 2nd corps during his conscription. a post shared by rm (@rkive) enlistment date: 11 december 2023 discharge date: 10 june 2025 bts’ rm, aka kim nam joon, enlisted in the military on the same day as his bandmate v. rm is a rapper, songwriter and record producer. he officially debuted as a solo artist in 2022 with his first studio album ‘indigo.’ known for his quiet luxury aesthetic, rm is the brand ambassador for the italian luxury brand bottega veneta. he is serving in the special task force of the capital defense command. enlistment date: 12 december 2023 discharge date: 11 june 2025 endearingly called the it boy of k pop by his fans, jeon jung kook is possibly the biggest k pop idol of our time with his debut solo single, ‘seven’ becoming the fastest song in 2023 to surpass 1 billion streams on spotify. in 2022, jungkook became the first korean artist to release a song for the fifa world cup, titled ‘dreamers’. he also performed at the 2022 fifa world cup opening ceremony. one of the korean celebrities whose discharge fans are most eagerly waiting for in 2025, he assumed the role of a cook during his military service. fans can’t wait for “jung cook’s” comeback! enlistment date: 12 december 2023 discharge date: 11 june 2025 jimin, aka park ji min, enlisted for military service with his bandmate jungkook. the duo, before starting their service, also launched a series, are you sure?! that documented their last days of freedom. other bts members like j hope and jin completed their military service in 2024. jimin, one of the most popular members of bts, launched his solo album ‘face’ in 2023. he is also the brand ambassador for two lvmh labels, dior and tiffany and co. during his military service, he was assigned to the artillery fire direction centre. a post shared by 우제연 (@imwoowow) enlistment date: 12 december 2023 discharge date: 11 june 2025 oh hee jun is a south korean singer songwriter and former member of the korean boyband knk. in 2021, after an almost six year long association with the band, hee jun decided to part ways to launch his solo career; he released his single on 16 october 2021. a post shared by 펜타곤 신원 과 고신원 and shinwon (@goprofashional) enlistment date: 21 december 2023 discharge date: 20 june 2025 shinwon is a korean celebrity, former model, singer songwriter and member of the k pop group pentagon. he is also one of the four remaining members of pentagon with cube entertainment after five band members parted ways with the agency in 2023. the remaining members’ contracts have been put on hold due to their military service. a post shared by nba (@nba) enlistment date: 22 september 2023 discharge date: 21 june 2025 one of the most loved korean celebrities, min yoon gi, aka suga, is a bts member and a solo artist. a rapper and songwriter, suga, who also uses the stage name agust d, is the highest charting south korean solo artist of all time along with his bandmate jimin. he is also the brand ambassador for valentino and the nba, serving as a social service agent during his conscription. a post shared by sehun (@oohsehun) enlistment date: 21 december 2023 discharge date: 20 september 2025 oh se hun or sehun is a south korean rapper, singer and actor. the exo member is another popular name among korean celebrities who will be discharged from military service in 2025. apart from musical gigs, sehun has also found fame in front of the camera. some of his popular works are all that we loved (2023) and now, we are breaking up (2022). he is also the brand ambassador for the popular luxury brand dior. a post shared by 송강 (@songkang_b) enlistment date: 2 april 2024 discharge date: 1 october 2025 song kang, the korean heartthrob rose to fame and gained recognition for his roles in the netflix series sweet home (2020 2024). some of his other popular works include nevertheless (2021), my demon (2023 2024) and forecasting love and weather (2022). he is also the asia pacific region brand ambassador for bobby brown cosmetics. he is an active duty soldier. a post shared by taeyong (@taeoxo_nct) enlistment date: 10 april 2023 discharge date: 10 october 2025 taeyong is a south korean rapper and songwriter who debuted in 2016 with the group nct. since then, his career has had an upward trajectory. in 2019 he was introduced as a member of the k pop group superm and in june 2023 he made his official debut as a solo artist with his ep ‘shalala’. taeyong serves as the global brand ambassador for spanish luxury brand loewe and is the newest ambassador for benefit cosmetics in korea. a post shared by 황민현 (@optimushwang) enlistment date: 21 march 2024 discharge date: 20 december 2025 hwang min hyun is a south korean singer, songwriter and actor. he has been a member of the music groups wanna one from 2017 2019 and nu’est from 2012 2022. apart from music, min hyun also found fame in acting. some of his most popular tv series are alchemy of souls (2022 2023) and my lovely liar (2023) among others. which korean celebrity’s comeback from military service are you most excited about? hero and feature image: courtesy: instagram/rm @rkive many k pop idols are coming back from military service in 2025, some of whom include, bts members jungkook, suga, rm and v, monsta x members joohoney, kihyun and hyungwon. many k pop stars have been out of the military after getting discharged. some of them are: bts’ jin and j hope, and got7's jay b and jinyoung. k pop idol yoo seung jun avoided military service by becoming a u.s. citizen. his career in south korea came to an end in 2002. guniya enjoys writing about pop culture and fashion. a literature graduate, she spends her free time reading novels and listening to rock music. a true introvert, she can spend hours at home, curled up with some coffee and a studio ghibli movie. yes, i agree to the privacy policy follow our daily snapshots at @lifestyleasiaindia yes, i agree to the privacy policy thank you for your subscription.

1 dj koo mourns wife barbie hsu's death, leaves inheritance to mother in law 3 korean cinema continues exodus to netflix as box office woes intensify 5 foreign residents boost korea's economic growth, report says 7 trump says he'll announce 'reciprocal' tariffs next week 9 r.lux names kim go eun as brand ambassador 11 'lee jun ho injured ligament during schedule, currently receiving treatment' 13 arrested president blames 'left wing cartel' amid impeachment push 15 hlb unveils roadmap for novel drugs for 3 cancer types by 2026 17 south korea captures 7 gold medals on 1st day of competition at winter asiad 19 can tv variety shows survive competition with youtube? 2 newjeans changes team name to njz, to perform at hong kong concert in march 4 actor park ji hyun says she used to weigh 80kg as sung si kyung reacts to her past photos 6 snow pounds korea for 2nd consecutive day 8 cold wave to continue throughout weekend 10 how accurately do american tv shows portray korean teenage life? 12 police disclose identity of telegram sex crime ring leader 14 trot legend song dae kwan dies at 78 16 3.1 magnitude quake hits korea's central city of chungju; no damage reported 18 chinese leader mulls first visit to korea in 11 years 20 conglomerates block access to deepseek amid security woes close for 24 hours bts fans crowd the republic of korea army training center in nonsan, south chungcheong province, monday, as rm and v, members of the k pop act bts, are slated to arrive. yonhap four bts members   rm, v, jimin and jungkook   begin their military duties this week, joining jin, j hope and suga already fulfilling their mandatory service. this development marks the end of the longstanding debate over the possibility of a military service exemption for bts and sets the stage for the group's anticipated reunion in 2025. on monday, rm and v started their military duty at the republic of korea army training center in nonsan, south chungcheong province, undergoing basic military training before entering active service in the army. in the midst of a light rain, the other five members of bts gathered at the camp to attend the enlistment ceremony of rm and v. the three members already serving in the military took a break to be present, while jimin and jungkook, who were scheduled to enlist the following day, also joined the group for this occasion. rm reflected on his past decade with the group, expressing his contentment and gratitude on fan community platform weverse, sunday, a day before his enlistment. "i was really happy to live as a bts member over the past 10 years," he wrote, saying he hopes to gain lessons and inspiration from the experience. v also shared his anticipation via weverse as well, saying, "even though those i'll be going to the military with may be younger than me, i think i'll be able to learn new things." with jimin and jungkook enlisting tuesday, the entire group completes its transition to military service. the four members are expected to be discharged in june 2025. jin, the group's eldest member, began his military service last december, followed by j hope in april this year. since september, suga has also been serving as a social service worker. the expected discharge dates are in june 2024 for jin, october 2024 for j hope and june 2025 for suga. bighit music, the agency managing bts and its members, has announced plans for the group to resume full fledged activities as a septet in 2025, once all members are discharged. a woman walks past a mural depicting rm, a member of k pop group bts, in goyang, gyeonggi province, monday, the same day that two more members of k pop phenomenon bts   rm and v   were set to start mandatory military service with the final two members   jimin and jungkook   expected to enlist tuesday. afp yonhap with all members enlisted in the military, the controversy surrounding bts' military service exemptions has come to an end. the controversy emerged in 2018 as the group gained unprecedented international fame as a k pop act. concerns were raised about the potential impact associated with bts members fulfilling their military service, mandatory for all able bodied men in korea for at least 18 months. the hiatus resulting from their service raised questions about the potential losses in both economic and cultural spheres and ignited a heated debate over whether bts members should receive special exemptions. military service exemptions in korea are typically granted to individuals in the fields of arts and sports who have contributed significantly to "elevating the nation's prestige" internationally, allowing them to continue their activities without hiatus. for athletes, this entails achieving at least an olympic bronze medal or an asian games gold medal. in the case of artists, the requirement is to secure at least second place in any of 42 designated fine arts competitions, as specified by the military manpower administration. son heung min, a gold medalist at the 2018 asian games, and cho seong jin, the winner of the international chopin piano competition, have been granted exemptions. while achievements in pop culture have generally been excluded from the exemptions due to their commercial nature, the bts members were subject to special consideration. bts fans crowd the gate to the army training center in nonsan, south chungcheong province, monday, as rm and v, members of the k pop act bts, are slated to arrive. yonhap advocates have argued that the group's impact extends far beyond commercial success, contending that bts has "elevated the national prestige" far more than any other artist or athlete. notably, bts made history as the first asian act to top the billboard 200 chart in 2018. it also became the inaugural k pop act to lead the main single chart, the hot 100, in september 2020. the group's accomplishments were further solidified when it won the artist of the year award at the american music awards (ama), one of the top three music awards in the u.s., in november of the following year. however, a survey by media real research korea found varied opinions on whether bts members should fulfill their military duties. of the 5,039 adults surveyed, 36 percent believed that granting exemptions was unfair, while 34.6 percent considered it a form of national recognition for those who have elevated the country's global recognition. despite varied public opinions, the bts members have consistently expressed their willingness to fulfill their military obligations as korean citizens. jin once said at a press event, "as an able bodied korean man, i think military service is a natural responsibility. if the country calls, i will respond anytime. i frequently discuss this with the members, and i am committed to responding to all military service requirements." bayern munich beat tottenham hotspur in seoul tottenham 4 3 k league all stars world water day 2024 busan world team table tennis championships finals super bowl 2024

radio schuman this is radio schuman, your new go to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news, insights, and behind the scenes from brussels and beyond. no comment no agenda, no argument, no bias, no comment. get the story without commentary. my wildest prediction dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries the big question deep dive conversations with business leaders euronews tech talks euronews tech talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives. with explanations, engaging q&as, and lively conversations, the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society. water matters europe's water is under increasing pressure. pollution, droughts, floods are taking their toll on our drinking water, lakes, rivers and coastlines. join us on a journey around europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters, how our wastewater can be better managed, and to discover some of the best water solutions. video reports, an animated explainer series and live debate   find out why water matters, from euronews. climate now we give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source, analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing. we meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt. radio schuman this is radio schuman, your new go to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news, insights, and behind the scenes from brussels and beyond. no comment no agenda, no argument, no bias, no comment. get the story without commentary. my wildest prediction dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries the big question deep dive conversations with business leaders euronews tech talks euronews tech talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives. with explanations, engaging q&as, and lively conversations, the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society. water matters europe's water is under increasing pressure. pollution, droughts, floods are taking their toll on our drinking water, lakes, rivers and coastlines. join us on a journey around europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters, how our wastewater can be better managed, and to discover some of the best water solutions. video reports, an animated explainer series and live debate   find out why water matters, from euronews. climate now we give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source, analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing. we meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt. bts will enlist in the south korean military for national service, according to their agency, putting an end to a years long debate on whether the k pop stars deserved exemptions from mandatory service. the members of the k pop supergroup bts will enlist in the south korean military for national service, according to their agency. this puts an end to a years long debate on whether the stars deserved exemptions from mandatory service. bighit music, part of bts's agency hybe, said on monday (17 october) that "the members of bts are currently moving forward with plans to fulfil their military service". the announcement by bts comes just months after the band announced they would be taking a break, with some members pursuing individual projects. "as each individual embarks on solo endeavours, it's the perfect time and the members of bts are honoured to serve," noted bighit music in a statement. last week, lee ki sik, the commissioner of the military manpower administration, said that it was “desirable” that members of the k pop group comply with requirements that all able bodied men under the age of 30 perform 18   21 months of military service in the interests of fairness and because the country remains technically at war with nuclear armed north korea. refusing to complete one's mandatory service is a crime in south korea, and can lead to imprisonment and social stigma. exemptions from military service are granted to some elite athletes, such as olympic medalists and to classical musicians   but pop stars do not qualify. the band had previously won a deferral   when in 2020, south korea's parliament passed a bill allowing the biggest k pop stars to delay their duties until the age of 30. the oldest band member, jin, is currently 29. he will begin preparations next month, the band's management revealed. "group member jin will initiate the process as soon as his schedule for his solo release is concluded at the end of october," added the statement. "other members of the group plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans." bts are credited with generating billions for the south korean economy, and this news does mean that fans of the world’s biggest boy band will have to be patient if they want to see bts on stage again. "both the company and the members of bts are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment," said their management company in a statement.

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@bts_group_pics on instagram carla paz, staff writeroctober 23, 2022 world famous k pop boy band bts announced their enlistment into the south korean military on oct. 17. this announcement comes after years of speculation from the south korean government of possible military exemption and a hiatus brought to light by the group in june 2022. the oldest member of the group, kim seok jin, better known as jin, will be the first to enlist at the end of october and will last 18 months. the plan for the other six members’ enlistment periods has not yet been made public by their label hybe, but regardless, all of the members will complete their service by 2025. since the civil war between north and south korea began, all able bodied men between the ages of 18 to 28 have been drafted into the south korean military. though there has not been any recent active warfare between the two countries, south korea still keeps the enlistment policy. the country gives the option to defer enlistment until the age of 28 for citizens. in 2020, the government amended the law to make it so that the k pop idols can defer their enlistment up to the age of 30. this amendment gave seok jin, who turns 30 in december, the option to continue his music career. however, because of the success that bts has worldwide, the south korean government was debating whether bts should qualify for a military exemption or not. a military exemption is not new many olympic athletes and classical musicians have received military exemption in south korea. if the government chose to approve bts military exemption, they would’ve been the first idols to receive this permission. the possibility of bts getting military exemption has been controversial among korean citizens because it is viewed as a special privilege. in south korea, joining the military is practiced as a rite of passage for men, and anyone who has taken loopholes is deemed to be wrong. famous korean american pop singer yoo seung jun renounced his korean citizenship to become an american citizen in 2002 and many south koreans saw this as an attempt to avoid military conscription. this resulted in his being banned from entering the country, which is still in place to this day, even after multiple appeals. even though the government decides on the exemption for bts, the group and hybe have never advocated for exemption. after years of waiting and deferring, bts members decided to enlist. the south korean government wanted to wait before they made a decision due to the amount of money and positive attention that bts brings to the country. since 2013, bts has brought in $29.4 billion to south korea’s economy through tours, merchandise, and sponsorships.