The record label of btsBigHit Music, a subsidiary of HYBE, announced on Monday the 17th that each of the members of the group (Jin, RM, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin, V and Jungkook) will be subject to mandatory military service, although the moment will vary by person.
“Jin will start the process as soon as he wraps up his schedule for his solo release at the end of October. She will then follow the Korean government’s enlistment procedure. Other members of the group plan to do their military service according to their own individual plans,” BigHit Music said in a statement. He noted that the group will meet again around 2025, after they all finish their respective terms of service.
How long is military service in South Korea?
By law, able-bodied male South Korean citizens must serve in the military for at least 18 months, however, the length of service may vary. Recruitment begins the year they turn 18, but can be delayed until they turn 28. In December 2020, the South Korean National Assembly passed a so-called “BTS law” so that K-pop artists can postpone exercising. the service until the age of 30, this by a recommendation of the Minister of Culture.
Jin will turn 30 in December and is the oldest member. Jungkook, the youngest, is 25.
Mandatory military service for the band, as well as for Korean pop stars in general, has divided opinion in the country in recent years as the popularity of K-pop has grown globally. While many, including some lawmakers, say the musicians’ contribution to the country’s global recognition should qualify them for an exemption, others, including the Defense Ministry, have opposed the move.
Several of the fans assumed that this separation and the individual works of each one obeyed this requirement imposed by South Korean legislation, and everything indicates that this has been fulfilled. Last July, J-Hope was the first to release solo material with the album Jack in the Box, which includes the singles “MORE” and “Arson.”