BTS Members Mark Major Milestone: Military Service Done, Comeback On the Horizon
K-pop celebrities forego mandated military service
Get ready, folks! Two BTS members, RM and V, have officially wrapped up their military service in South Korea, clearing the way for the iconic K-pop group's grand comeback.
On Tuesday morning, these music superstars bid farewell to the military in the vibrant city of Chuncheon, drawing wave after wave of cheers from admirers hailing from various corners of the globe—from Mexico to Turkey, and even Brazil.
Joining RM and V in their military service journey were bandmates Jin, J-Hope, and Suga, who had kicked off their stint earlier. Jin, the group's eldest member at 32, saw his tour of duty end in June 2024, followed by J-Hope in October of the same year.
The remaining duo, Jimin and Jungkook, will follow suit on June 11, 2025, while Suga, who's serving as a "social service worker," will complete his service slightly later, by June 21, 2025[1][2]. The full powerhouse of BTS is poised to reunite in June 2025, a moment eagerly awaited by the global fanbase of the K-pop titans.
No Wiggle Room for K-Pop Stars
For South Korean men aged 18-28, military service is a mandatory commitment, ordinarily lasting 18-21 months. The goal? Maintaining the country's military readiness amidst persisting tensions with North Korea.
While top athletes, musicians, and dancers may dodge service under specific circumstances, K-pop stars are not immune. A debate over a potential exemption for BTS ignited in 2022, only to be quelled by the group's management, who announced that all members would fulfill their military duties[3]. Formerly, a law amendment granted deferred enlistment for "culturally significant artists" up until age 30, but that was before BTS hit the peaks of worldwide fame.
Since their inception in 2013, BTS has transformed into a global sensation, with albums such as "Love Yourself", "Map of the Soul", and "BE" dominating international charts. They made history as the first South Korean group to grace the Grammy stages, and they've teamed up with the UN to promote messages like self-love, youth empowerment, and social responsibility. Their success story is a shining example of rising above the radar of mainstream Western music.
[1] https://www.billboard.com/[2] https://twitter.com/RM_statik[3] https://www.theguardian.com/
Selected Enrichment Data:
BTS Military Service Completion and Comeback Timeline
Here's a summary of when each BTS member can expect to be discharged from their military service:
- Jin: Completed in June 2024
- J-Hope: Completed in October 2024
- RM and V: June 10, 2025
- Jimin and Jungkook: June 11, 2025
- Suga: June 21, 2025(Note: Suga is serving as a public service worker due to health reasons.)
Reunion and Comeback Plans
The full BTS team is set to be reunited by June 2025, marking the end of their military hiatus. The group has hinted at a world tour following their reunion[1][2]. Fans have been eagerly counting down the days with RM posting a "D-30" countdown on social media[2]. The excitement mounts as fans speculate about new music and performances from BTS.
[1] https://www.billboard.com/[2] https://twitter.com/RM_statik[3] https://www.theguardian.com/
I'm not going to be able to wait until June 2025 for the BTS comeback, as their military service completion timeline shows that's when RM and V will return, along with potentially new music and performances, making it an exciting moment for entertainment fans worldwide. Despite their popularity, BTS had to follow South Korea's mandatory military service, even as musicians, a fact emphasized by their upcoming comeback, which may feature live concert events as part of a world tour.
