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BTS & ARMY forever. With one back and six to go, BTS' Korean military service is flying by quicker than we thought.
On October 17, 2022, BTS' label BigHit Entertainment announced that the oldest member Jin will enlist in the military via the fan platform Weverse and their official social media platforms. The statement said, "The members of BTS are currently moving forward with plans to fulfill their military service. Group member Jin will initiate the process as soon as his schedule for his solo release is concluded at the end of October. He will then follow the enlistment procedure of the Korean government. Other members of the group plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans." The company added, "Both the company and the members of BTS are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment."
BTS's 7 Members Were Discovered in the Most Unconventional Ways
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Bangtan Sonyeondan, better known as BTS or The Bangtan Boys, debuted in 2013 with members RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. The boyband captured the hearts of millions with their fanbase affectionately called ARMY, which stands for Adorable Representative MC of Youth. The K-pop group's accomplishments catapulted them to the top of the Billboard Charts, two Grammy nominations and multiple American Music Awards and MTV Video Music Awards wins. They were also named TIME's Entertainer of the Year 2020. In 2022, BTS released an anthology album of their nearly decade-long career called Proof. The single from the album, "Yet to Come" promises there will be more amazing things to come ahead for BTS. The septet finished their concert in Busan for a showcase for the bid for the 2030 World Expo, and it might be the last time that they perform together in a while.
Read below on when each member of BTS will enlist in the military.
Why is BTS going to the military? In South Korea, every able-bodied man must enlist for military service by the age of 30 and serve for 18 to 21 months. Some exceptions were made for men who have served their nation in other ways, such as notable elite athletes or classical musicians. Before Jin's enlistment, the South Korean government debated whether BTS members should go serve in the military as they've had a significant impact on Korea's spread of culture and their contributions to the country's overall economy, but it was ultimately decided that the group's seven members should serve as scheduled. Since Jin will be turning 30 in December 2022, he was the first member to do his mandatory military enlistment. According to Big Hit, each member will "carry out their individual plans" before they enlist.
Though each member carried out their individual plans and solo projects, BTS is not breaking up. During their FESTA 2022 video to celebrate the anniversary of their debut, RM said that the group would be taking a break from activities to focus on what they want as artists. V said, "We could focus on our solo work this time and later when we gather again as a group, that synergy will be like no other. We'll be better than before."
In a statement from Big Hit, RM, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans.
BTS' military schedule complies with the South Korean age requirement since Jin will be the first to enlist. Though each member varies in age, Big Hit confirmed that they are all expected to reunite as a group in 2025. Here is a list of when each BTS member enlisted in the military.
Jin is the first BTS member to enlist in the military. The oldest member of the group turned 30 in December 2022, which is the age cap for the mandatory listing. In a statement, BigHit said: "Group member Jin will initiate the process as soon as his schedule for his solo release is concluded at the end of October. He will then follow the enlistment procedure of the Korean government."
During their concert for the Busan bid for the 2030 World Expo on October 15, 2022, Jin announced that he will be the next member after J-Hope to release his solo work. His single will be released "soon," and he said, "I was able to work together with someone that I'd always really liked, so I'll be releasing a new song. I've filmed a lot of different things recently, and there's still a lot of [content] left to film, so I hope you'll enjoy all of it." On October 28, 2022, Jin released the single "The Astronaut" which was co-written by his friends in Coldplay.
Big Hit Entertainment announced via the fan community site Weverse on December 6, 2022, that fans are not allowed at Jin's entrance ceremony during his enlistment. "Jin will fulfill his required time with the military by enlisting in the army. Please note that we will not be holding any kind of official event on the day of his recruitment. The entrance ceremony is a time to be observed by military personnel and their families only. In order to prevent any issues that might occur from crowding, we ask fans to please refrain from visiting the site. Instead, we ask you to keep your heartwarming words of support and farewell in your hearts." Billboard reported that Jin's enlistment date is December 13, 2022. In a surprise appearance from a phone call from J-Hope at the 2022 MAMA Awards, Jin said via telephone, "I'll go and come back from the military well!"
On December 11, 2022, Jin posted a selfie on Weverse with his military buzzcut and captioned it "Cuter than expected" in Korean. He also posted a goodbye message on the fan and artist community site, saying "Ok it's now time for the curtain call (I wanted to say this when I enlisted)" referring to a character's line in his favorite game League of Legends who is also named Jhin. All the other six members wished Jin a happy goodbye, with RM posting on his Instagram stories a picture of the boys touching Jin's shaved head with the caption "Love you, our Jin. See you soon! It's reported that Jin started his training on December 13, 2022, at the Gyeonggi Province, close to the border with North Korea.
In June 2024, BigHit Music announced Jin's return on Weverse. "Jin is close to completing his active service in the army and will soon be discharged," the statement read. It also reminded fans that there were no special events in place and that discharge day was for military personnel only, urging fans to not visit the site to avoid any "any issues arising from overcrowding."
Jin returned from the military on June 11, 2024. The other six members greeted Jin outside his military station, as they all had pre-approved time off from their military duties on that day. Jin is set to appear at BTS' FESTA Celebrations where 1,000 lucky fans will receive a hug from the oldest member.
BTS' rapper and main dancer Jung Hoseok, known as j-hope, announced his plans to join the military on February 26, 2023. On the fan community site and app Weverse, BTS' company Big Hit Entertainment announced, "We would like to inform our fans that j-hope has initiated the military enlistment process by applying for the termination of his enlistment postponement." The company also asked fans for "continued love and support" throughout his military service until it ends. Along with the military announcement, the company announced that j-hope will be releasing a single "on the street" on March 3, 2023.
On April 17, 2023, J-Hope posted a photo of himself with his buzzcut. He captioned the photo, "I love you ARMY 🫡💜 I'll be back!" Jin, who is currently serving, commented on the post, "D-1" referring to when J-Hope is set to leave. The day before, he went on Weverse Live to tell fans goodbye before he entered military training. He assured fans, "Please don't be too upset, since I'm doing my duty as the healthy youth. So what I wanted to tell is to you guys to not worry and I'll go and come back well. 'Please eat well'. Yes of course, as I told you guys, don't worry, I've been eating really well." He also read a comment, "October 17, 2024 -- Hobi's discharge date, I'll be waiting for this day only." He replied, "October 17, right. I'll be back safely."
On April 18, the seven members reunited for j-hope's military entrance ceremony. Jin, who joined the military in December, posted a picture on Instagram of the reunion with the translated caption, "nxt person."
j-hope was the first member to release solo music after BTS announced their hiatus. He released his first album Jack In the Box in July 2022 and was the first South Korean act to headline Lollapalooza in Chicago.
j-hope returned from the military on October 17, 2024. Jin came to greet his fellow band member as he was discharged.
The leader of the group, Kim Namjoon, known as RM, enlisted on December 11, 2023. On November 21, 2023, BIGHIT Music announced that the four remaining members RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook have started the military enlistment process.
"The artists are preparing to fulfill their military service duties. We will inform you of further updates in due course," the entertainment company posted on the fan community site Weverse. "We ask you for your continued love and support for RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook until they complete their military service and safely return. Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artists."
"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 and Weverse. "See you in the future. I love you a lot."
In an interview with The New York Times, RM is interested in opening his own art space after years of collecting art. He released solo work after his hit mixtapes, RM, in 2015 and mono. in 2018. On December 2, 2022, RM debuted his first studio album, Indigo, which features Erykah Badu, Anderson .Paak, Tablo of Epik High, Kim Sa-wol, Paul Blanco, Mahalia, Colde, Youjeen of Cherry Filter, and Park Ji-yoon. He also released a second album named Right Place, Wrong Person on May 24, 2024.
BTS' rapper and producer, Min Yoongi, known as Suga, has announced his plans to join the military. After his momentous D-Day World Tour, BigHit Entertainment announced through the fan community site Weverse that Suga has ended his enlistment postponement.
"We would like to inform our fans that SUGA has initiated the military enlistment process by applying for the termination of his enlistment postponement," BigHit said in a statement.
"We ask you for your continued love and support for SUGA until he completes his military service and safely returns," the statement concluded. "Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artist."
Suga is the second oldest of the group and turned 30 in 2023, which is his last year to enlist. On February 14, 2023, BigHit Entertainment announced that Suga would be embarking on a world tour under his stage name and his alter ego Agust D as well as a new album titled D-Day. He released two solo mixtapes under Agust D: Agust D, released in 2016, and D-2, released in 2020.
After his last concert, Suga went on to Weverse Live to assure fans and thank them for their support. He also showed off his '7' friendship tattoo. "I think I had a fun tour the last couple of months. I really don't cry," he said. "Those past 10 years went by like a film. I started crying from then."
He concluded his live stream hinting at enlistment, but not directly mentioning it. "I think it's a lie if I say 'soon,'" he told viewers about seeing them again. "Let's see each other in 2025, OK? Please wait a little bit," he concluded in his message to ARMY. "2025. See you then!"
BigHit Entertainment posted on Weverse that Suga will start his service on September 22, 2023. "SUGA will be beginning his required service on September 22," the statement read. "There will not be any official events taking place on the day he starts his service or on the day he enters the training camp. We kindly ask fans to refrain from visiting SUGA at his workplace during the period of his service. Please convey your warm regards and encouragement in your hearts only."
The statement continued, "Furthermore, please be mindful to avoid getting adversely affected by unauthorized tours or package products that illegally use the artist's intellectual property. Our company will take appropriate measures against attempts at any commercial activity that make unauthorized use of artist IP. We ask for your continued love and support for SUGA until he completes his service and returns. Our company will also strive to provide all the support he needs during this time.
Suga posted on Weverse on the day of his enlistment while giving his thanks and support to ARMY. "I'll faithfully serve and come back ... Please stay healthy and let's meet all again in 2025."
Because of a shoulder surgery in 2020, Suga will serve as a social service agent, per the Associated Press. The job is a kind of compulsory employment set up as an alternative to military conscription, especially for those with physical or mental health issues (though they still have to complete three weeks of basic military training at some point).
BTS' vocalist and dancer Park Jimin, known as Jimin, enlisted on December 12, 2023. He is scheduled to enlist together with Jung Kook. On November 21, 2023, BIGHIT Music announced that the four remaining members RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook have started the military enlistment process.
"The artists are preparing to fulfill their military service duties. We will inform you of further updates in due course," the entertainment company posted on the fan community site Weverse. "We ask you for your continued love and support for RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook until they complete their military service and safely return. Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artists."
In January 2023, Jimin collaborated with BIGBANG's Taeyang on the song "Vibe." On February 21, 2023, Jimin announced that he would be releasing his first solo album Face on March 23, 2023. The single from the album "Like Crazy" topped the Billboard 100 chart the first week it was out. He also released a Weverse documentary of the making of the album called Jimin's Production Diary in late October 2023.
BTS' vocalist and dancer Kim Taehyung, known as V, enlisted on December 11, 2023. On November 21, 2023, BigHit Music announced that the four remaining members RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook have started the military enlistment process.
"The artists are preparing to fulfill their military service duties. We will inform you of further updates in due course," the entertainment company posted on the fan community site Weverse. "We ask you for your continued love and support for RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook until they complete their military service and safely return. Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artists."
V has released songs for several Korean dramas such as "It's Definitely You" with Jin for Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth, where he also starred, "Sweet Night" for Itaewon Class and "Christmas Tree" for Our Beloved Summer. In February 2023, V starred in the cooking show Jinny's Kitchen with Park Seojoon, Choi Wooshik, Lee Seojin, and Jeong Yumi.
He released his debut studio album Layover on September 8, 2023, with the hit singles "Love Me Again" and "Slow Dancing." It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. He also released a single "FRI(END)S" on March 15, 2024.
BTS' vocalist, dancer, and youngest of the group, Jeon Jungkook, known as Jung Kook, enlisted on December 12, 2023. He is scheduled to enlist together with Jimin. On November 21, 2023, BigHit Music announced that the four remaining members RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook have started the military enlistment process.
"The artists are preparing to fulfill their military service duties. We will inform you of further updates in due course," the entertainment company posted on the fan community site Weverse. "We ask you for your continued love and support for RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook until they complete their military service and safely return. Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artists."
Jung Kook released a song "Stay Alive," produced by Suga earlier in 2022, and recently collaborated with Charlie Puth for the hit song, "Left and Right." He also released "Dreamers" as part of the soundtrack for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. For the 2022 FESTA, Jung Kook released a song called "My You" dedicated to ARMY. According to Weverse Magazine, Jungkook has been working on his mixtape since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. "I could just make it about myself, and then it would be like, I started as a trainee when I was 13, I worked hard, and found success. But anyone could do that," he said about the narrative concept of the mixtape. The mixtape does not have a release date yet but is expected to come out before he enlists.
In July 2023, Jung Kook released "Seven" which topped the Billboard 100 chart the week it came out and additionally the song broke four Guinness World Records. He also released "3D (feat. Jack Harlow)" leading up to the release of his debut solo album Golden on November 3, 2023. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 210,200 equivalent album units earned.