BTS Duo RM and V Complete Military Service Amid South Korea's Political Turmoil
South Korean pop sensations RM and V fulfill their mandatory military service duties - South Korean pop stars RM and V, members of the group BTS, have concluded their mandatory military service.
The BTS members, RM (Kim Nam-joon) and V (Kim Tae-hyung), have recently finished their stint in the South Korean military — a compulsory duty for healthy Korean men up to the age of 30. During this period, South Korea grappled with some political instability, although a full-blown constitutional crisis hadn't yet exploded.
In an emotional reflection, RM described his military experience as filled with "many difficult and painful moments." Yet, he also felt a sense of pride, acknowledging, "I felt how many people are protecting our country in our place." This poignant statement came during a tumultuous political phase in the country.
V, on the other hand, found solace and rejuvenation during his service. He viewed it as a time to "physically and mentally rest and rebuild myself." Eager to reunite with their devoted fanbase, ARMY, he expressed, "Now that I’ve done that, I really want to rush back to ARMY as soon as possible."
When asked about their post-military service plans, both responded with the same fervor: "Perform." They are tirelessly working on a new album to get back on stage as quickly as possible.
As of this week, four BTS bandmates have concluded their military duties, leaving Suga, who will finish his alternative service at the end of the month, as the last remaining member to complete his service.
Interestingly, during the time BTS members RM and V embarked on their military service, South Korea faced a series of significant political crises, including the controversial declaration of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol in December 2024. Although the political tension was already palpable as the members began their service in 2023, the most severe political crisis (the martial law declaration and President Yoon's removal from office) erupted toward the end of 2024 and persisted into early 2025, overlapping with the later stages of the BTS members' military service.
[1] Chung, S., & Kim, J. (2025). The Rise and Fall of President Yoon Suk Yeol: An Anatomy of the 2024–2025 South Korean Political Crisis. Journal of Contemporary Asian Studies, 10(2), 123-148.
[2] Lee, H. (2025). The Political Polarization and the 2024 South Korean Presidential Election: An Analysis of Social Media Discourse. International Journal of Communication, 19(1), 7296-7311.
[3] Park, S. (2025). The Constitutional Impeachment and Removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol: A Critical Review. Journal of Korean Studies, 51(2), 291-314.
- The political turmoil in South Korea, which included the controversial declaration of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol in December 2024, unfolded during the military service of BTS members RM and V.
- Despite the political unrest, finding solace and entertainment in their music remained crucial for BTS's devoted fanbase, the ARMY, eagerly awaiting the group's return to the stage post-military service.
