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BTS Members reveals they will join South Korean Military for mandatory service
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K-pop group, BTS, to serve in S’Korea military
The seven members of the Korean pop group BTS have made arrangements to join in the armed forces of South Korea.
Big Hit Music, the group’s management company, revealed this in a statement on Monday that was posted on Twitter.
The eldest member of the group, Jin, age 29, will be the first to enrol in the army, and the other members, RM, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook will follow suit based on their own “individual plans.”
The group, on the other hand, intends to reconvene in 2025.
The K-pop idols’ management organisation, Big Hit Music, verified this, ending years of rumours over whether they should be exempted due to their reputation as renowned musicians.
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The release read in part, “The members of BTS are currently moving forward with plans to fulfil 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. Both the company and the members of BTS are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment.
“With the release of their first anthology album earlier this year, it opened the path to allow the members to take some time to explore individual projects. As part of the HYBE family, we support and encourage our artists and are beyond proud that they will each now have time to explore their unique interests and do their duty by being of service to the country they call home.
“After the phenomenal concert to support Busan’s bid for the World Expo 2030, and as each individual embarks on solo endeavours, it’s a perfect time and the members of BTS are honoured to serve.”
[공지] 방탄소년단 병역 이행 및 향후 활동 계획 안내 (+ENG/JPN/CHN) pic.twitter.com/jntF90agO4
— BIGHIT MUSIC (@BIGHIT_MUSIC) October 17, 2022
All able-bodied men between the ages of 18-35 are required by South Korean law to serve in the military for at least 18 months.
An amendment to the country’s Military Service Act In 2020 allowed for pop culture artists “recommended by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to have greatly enhanced the image of Korea both within the nation and throughout the world” to postpone their service until the age of 30.
Asides from global K-Pop stars like the BTS, the exemption was also given to South Korean Olympic medallists, high-achieving sports stars, classical musicians, and dancers.
The group had earlier announced a temporary hiatus in June, mainly to focus on their individual music careers.