It was first announced earlier this month that South Korea’s military wanted to conscript K-pop band BTS into the army.
While the nation’s armed forces insisted it was only fair the world-famous hit-makers took part in military service, South Korea seemed split over the call, with polls showing mixed responses among the public over whether or not BTS should serve.
However, on Monday (17 October), BTS’s record label BIGHIT MUSIC confirmed the stars would be conscripted.
In a statement published at the beginning of the week, BIGHIT said it was ‘proud’ that BTS would be ‘moving forward with plans to fulfil their military service’ and that members are ‘honoured to serve’.
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It was also confirmed that Jin, who at 29 is the oldest member of the group, will be the first to start military service.
“Group member Jin will initiate the process as soon as his schedule for his solo release is concluded at the end of October,” the statement said.
BIGHIT also said the band will ‘reconvene’ in 2025 after their ‘service commitment’.
The statement read in full: “BIGHIT MUSIC is proud to announce today that the members of BTS are currently moving forward with plans to fulfil their military service. After the phenomenal concert to support Busan's bid for the World Expo 2030, and as each individual embarks on solo endeavours, it's the perfect time and the members of BTS are honoured to serve.”
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It went on: “Since the creation of BTS over ten years ago, the band has risen to international success, broken records, and catapulted K-Pop into the global stratosphere.
“BIGHIT MUSIC has focused to the milestone moment when it would be possible to respect the needs of the country and for these healthy young men to serve with their countrymen, and that's now.
“Group member Jin will initiate the process as soon as his schedule for his solo release is concluded at the end of October. He will then follow the enlistment procedure of the Korean government.
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“Other members of the group plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans.
“Both the company and the members of BTS are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment.
“With the release of their first anthology album earlier this year it opened the path to allow the members to take some time to explore individual projects.”
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The statement concluded: “As part of the HYBE family, we support and encourage our artists and are beyond proud that they will each now have time to explore their unique interests and do their duty by being of service to the country they call home.
"Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment) is more than a track from their latest album, it is a promise, there's much more yet to come in the years ahead from BTS.”
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Topics: Celebrity, Music, World News, Korea