All the members of K-pop sensation BTS have officially enlisted for military service, with a reunion not on the cards until at least 2025.
On Tuesday, lead vocalist Jungkook and main dancer Jimin became the final BTS members to enlist – a requirement for all able-bodied South Korean men aged 18-28.
Last October, BTS’s agency BigHit Music owned by HYBE, confirmed that all seven members of the band would fulfil their country’s military obligation, starting with the eldest, Jin, who joined in December 2022.
The members J-Hope and Suga enlisted a few months later, followed by RM, the group’s leader, and V on Monday. (Suga is carrying out an alternative form of military service as a social service agent). The last two members, Jimin and Jungkook, began their military service on Tuesday.
Jungkook is at the height of his solo career – in the past few weeks, he has released collaborations with Justin Timberlake and Usher, his debut album Golden soared to number one on several charts, and the dance solo for his song Standing Next to You has become a TikTok trend.
This week, several BTS members took to social media to say goodbye to their fans.
RM, whose real name is Kim Namjun, wrote on the social media platform Weverse on Sunday that “the day has finally come".
“See you in the future,” he said.
On Monday, V, whose real name is Kim Taehyung, posted pictures of his new buzzcut, a requirement for recruits enlisting in the military.
“To be honest, I’m alright other than the fact that I won’t be able to make happy memories with ARMY for the time being,” he wrote, referring to the band’s famously dedicated fan base.
The band are adored globally, and are estimated to contribute nearly £4 billion to the South Korean economy each year.
All seven members have asked fans not to visit the military bases, though hundreds of hardcore fans have defied their wishes.
Why do BTS members have to enlist in the military?
In South Korea, it is the law that all able-bodied male citizens have to serve in the army for 18-21 months by the age of 28 because the country is still technically at war with its hostile neighbour, North Korea.
There has been a fierce debate over whether BTS, arguably South Korea's most influential cultural export, should have to serve. There have previously been exemptions granted to Olympic medallists and classical musicians.
The BTS members had previously been granted exemptions to defer their enlistments until they turned 30 after receiving an Order of Cultural Merit in 2018 by then-president Moon Jae-in. But lawmakers stopped short of exempting artists entirely.
When did the first member enlist?
Jin was 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.
The three other BTS members have already started their mandatory service in the past 12 months, starting with Jin last December, J-Hope in April this year and Suga in September.
When do they return?
The start of Jimin and Jung Kook’s service on Tuesday began an 18-month countdown until all seven members complete their service requirements. A typical enlistment in South Korea is one-and-a-half years. The band’s management said last year that BTS would reconvene “around 2025”.
See below for the expected dates of the BTS members’ return:
Jin: enlisted in December 2022, expected to return in June 2024
J-Hope: enlisted in April 2023, expected to return in September 2024
Suga: enlisted in September 2023, expected to return in March 2025
RM: enlisted on December 11 2023, expected to return in June 2025
Jimin: enlisted on December 2023, expected to return in June 2025
Jungkook: enlisted in December 2023, expected to return in June 2025
V: enlisted in December 2023, expected to return in June 2025
What does military service entail?
The band members will receive five weeks of combat training before being assigned to specific units and duties.
Currently, Suga is fulfilling his requirements as a social service agent, while the rest of the group will serve in the army.
The Military Manpower Administration has said that the singers will go through the same process as other South Korean males conscripted for service.
How many countries have military service?
There are around 85 countries worldwide that have some form of obligatory military training including Israel, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Brazil and the Koreas.
The United States had mandatory military service until 1973. But an act of Congress could still reinstate the draft in case of a national emergency.
