BTS MILITARY SERVICE
The moment we didn’t want has finally arrived, one of Korea’s and Worldwide most famous K-pop band will be getting off the stage for a while in the meantime their members complete their obligatory military service as confirmed by their agency. The K-pop idols will each spend nearly two years in the military, contrary to the expectations of ARMY who had hoped they would receive preferential treatment in recognition of their contributions to the country’s economy and status.
(Image: Credits to the rightful owner)
The same way as other Korean citizens have been granted exemptions or permitted to engage in alternative public duty, like Heung-min Son (Tottenham footballer) who won a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games or Seong-jin Cho, the first Korean musician to win the International Chopin Piano Competition.
(Image: Credits to the rightful owner)
As soon as he turns 30 in December, Jin, the oldest of the K-pop band, will be the first to enlist and later followed by RM, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook, who were born between 1993 and 1997.
“Jin will initiate the process as soon as his schedule for his solo release is concluded at the end of the month of October”
“The rest of the members of the band plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans.”
The announcement was made by BIGHIT MUSIC after the amazing concert supporting Busan’s bid for the World Expo 2030: “BIGHIT MUSIC is proud to announce today that the members of BTS are currently moving forward with plans to fulfill their military service… as each individual embarks on solo endeavors, it’s perfect time and the members of BTS are honored to serve.”
(Image: Credits to the rightful owner)
According to BIGHIT MUSIC the band is anticipated to reunite around 2025: “Both the company and the members of BTS are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment.”
In order to keep South Korea's military prepared for a potential assault by North Korea, with which it is still nominally at war, all able-bodied men under the age of 30 are required to serve for between 18 and 21 months in the military.
It is a sad day for ARMY and the music world, for the upcoming years no new tours or music will be possible from the idols. It will also be hard years for the Korean economy, as we know the K-pop band contributes more than $3.6 billion every year and the country could lose all these billions. Analysts predicted that if BTS maintained their popularity between 2014 and 2023, the band would have contributed $29.4 billion to the South Korean economy.
(Image: Credits to the rightful owner)
Although K-pop fans are sad with this news, all we can do is to give BTS our best wishes and support, waiting for their comeback! Love from the fans will always be with them and will be here waiting for them patiently.
Author: SUJI SOHN
About the author: Suji was studying in London in the year 2019 and, although being separated from her family, her passion for Korea was growing. She noticed that a lot of her close friends loved Korean culture, food, music, and dramas and gradually started to fall in love with Korea, but there weren't many opportunities to actually "experience" this wonderful nation!
Suji was aware of what she needed to do to introduce Korea to her friends' lives and, conceivably, to those of everyone else who was curious about a piece of Daehan Min-guk.
