BTS’ management company has officially confirmed that the K-pop superstars will serve in South Korea’s mandatory military service, starting with Jin, the oldest member.
“BTS member Jin will request to cancel the delay of his military enlistment in late October and then follow the enlistment process of the Military Manpower Administration. The other members will then follow with their enlistments according to their individual plans,” a statement from HYBE released on Monday Oct. 17 to stock investors.
In a separate statement to fans, Hybe-owned Big Hit Music said Jin would enlist after his schedule for his solo release is completed by the end of October.
The rest of the members will carry out their military service based on their personal plans, the statement said.
“Both the company and the members of BTS are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment,” the statement added.
All able-bodied South Korean men aged between 18 and 28 are required to serve in the military for about 20 months.
In 2020, South Korea’s parliament passed a bill that would allow globally recognized K-pop stars such as BTS to postpone mandatory military service until they turn 30.
Some had called for BTS members to be exempted, as other high-profile classical musicians and athletes who have won medals at the Olympics or other significant games have been in the past.
Since 2013, the K-pop group of 7 members —Jin, Suga, RM, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook— has broken new records every year and have taken Korean music to an international stage.
Monday’s announcement came just months after the band announced they were taking a break to rediscover themselves and focus on solo projects.
Days earlier, the band reunited for a concert in Busan on Oct. 15 in support of South Korea’s bid to host the World Expo 2030 in the city.
It will be their last concert as a group until they finish serving in the military, according to the label, AP reported.
