Korean pop band, BTS, has announced that its band members Jin, RM, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook will enlist in South Korea’s military.
This was revealed in a statement shared by the group’s management company, Big Hit Music, via Twitter on Monday.
This is coming after the world famous boy band announced a temporary hiatus in June.
The oldest member of the group, 29 year old, Jin, will be the first to enlist in the military while the others will enlist according to their own “individual plans.”
However, the group plans to reconvene in 2025.
The statement stated,
“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. Both the company and the members of BTS are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment.”
It continued,
“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.”
It also stated,
“After the phenomenal concert to support Busan’s bid for the World Expo 2030, and as each individual embarks on solo endeavors, it’s the perfect time and the members of BTS are honored to serve.”
In South Korea, every able bodied man between the ages of 18-35 are required to serve in the military for at least 18 months.
However, due to an amendment made to the country’s Military Service Act In 2020, pop culture artistes “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” are allowed to postpone their service until the age of 30.