All the members of K-pop group BTS have signed up for military service, and a reunion will now only be possible from 2025 onwards. Jungkook and Jimin were the last to be called in. The mandatory enlistment is necessary for all the men in South Korea. Even celebrities are not exempted from this Military duty. All the BTS members had to enlist before the age of 30. However, a common South Korean man has to enlist between 18-28. In October last year, the agency of BTS under HYBE BigHit Music confirmed that all members would obey army duties since their oldest member joined in December 2022. All the fans are eagerly waiting for BTS military service and their return. Here we have all the information regarding BTS and their military:
Why do BTS members have to enlist in the military?
In South Korea, there is a law that all fit men are expected to serve in the army for 18 – 21 months. It must be done at least before age twenty-eight. South Korea has always a threat from North Korea. They are still officially engaged in war with its rebellious neighbor North Korea. There has been a long debate on whether BTS should serve or get an exemption from Military.
BTS are one of the most popular boyband who have achieved Global success. They are the most important cultural export of South Korea, but will still have to do their duty. It happened that the previous restrictions included exemptions to Olympic medalists and classical musicians only.
In 2018, President Moon Jae-in granted the BTS members an Order of Cultural Merit. It gave them exemptions to defer their enlistments until they are thirty years. However, legislators did not entirely exempt artists from their operation. Therefore, their military enlistment for few years.
When did the first member of BTS enlist?
Jin was the first BTS member to join military service. The limit for mandatory listing is the age of 30. Jim waited till the age of 30 as the Government allowed all the members to defer the enlistment till 30. As Jin happens to be the oldest member in the group, he is the first one to join his service. Other BTS member have soon followed Jin. J-Hope left in April 2023, next one was Suga.
When Will BTS members return?
The beginning of the service by Jimin and Jung Kook set off an 18-month timer. It is moving towards the questions regarding their return. Now every fan will count days when all seven BTS members fulfill their civil duties. In south Korea the normal period of enlistment is one and a half year. It has seen a little decrease due to the pressure by the management of the band last year. We all have to wait till 2025 for them to return. Till then, all the fans can continue enjoying their previous songs. Here are BTS returning dates from Military.
- Jin: Dec 2022 enlisted, returned in June 2024.
- J-Hope: Joined military in April 2023, expected to comeback September.
- Suga: Enrolled on September 2023, scheduled for return by March15, 2025.
- RM: Joined Military on December 16, 2023 and will return in June 2025
- Jimin: Joining date is December 2023, and comeback in June/July of 2025.
- Jungkook: Enlisted in December 2023; should return by June of 2025
- V: signed up in December 2023 will come back June 14, 2025
What is the military service about?
Are you thinking when will BTS return from military? Here is some sneak-peak. The band members will undergo five weeks of combat training. They will shift to various departments allocated and complete their duty. As of now, Suga is learning how to fill his responsibilities as a social service officer. While the rest of group will be set for National Service. The Military Manpower Administration has indicated that the singers will undergo a similar process as any other South Korean male citizen drafted for military service.
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Story of Success
By 2016, the band knew they were superstars in Korea. They played in the largest venue. The next big gig was at the Olympic Gymnastics arena which had a capacity of 25000 audiences. They won the Mnet Asian Music Awards’ most coveted honor: Best Artist of the Year. “It is the end. The credits would roll in a movie scene at that stage, and we’ve done all as Korean artists,” Suga adds with a chuckle. So what next? World domination. In 2019, BTS hosted the biggest concert at Rose Bowl. The stadium capacity had over 90,000 seats. The surprising thing was that all the tickets were sold in only 10 minutes. It’s a record which no one could ever break.
The next year at the Billboard Music Awards, BTS was sure that they would be walking away with nothing. Shockingly, they were awarded with Top Social Artist Award; a feat that had always been won by Justin Bieber.
“It was the beginning of people’s awareness for us as BTS,” RM reveals. Things continued to shine even brighter. The duo dropped a remix with Steve Aoki and performed at the American Music Awards. By the beginning of 2022, BTS was making history. The group also had their breakthrough hit “Butter” to be staged in the 64th GRAMMY Awards.
Conclusion: Connecting with the present & the future
For those young (and old) and have no idea about BTS (Jimin, Jin, Suga, J- Hope V, RM, Jungkook), don’t worry. It’s for this reason that BTS, formerly known as Bangtan Sonyeondan which literally translates to ‘Bulletproof Boy Scouts’, have graced Time magazine cover. Not once or twice but three times in a row.
The biggest boy idol group in South Korea and probably the world is arguably record-breaking. Their lyrics not only stick to the memory for Last-song Syndrome. Moreover, their energetic dance moves give young dancers world over something to look up to. In the United Nations, BTS members actually hold important roles. They are the UN Special Presidential Envoys of Future Generations and Culture.
So now you got the dates for BTS return from millitary service. It’s surely a long timespan, but ARMYs are always there for BTS. As all the members are coming back in 2025, we hope to find all the members returing as a group band. Spectulations are that they will continue as a band and provide us with thrilling music which will storm the music industry and records again. Let’s wait for their return from millitary and support them till end!
