BTS members to embark on obligatory army service

USA Prime Time
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Members of BTS, the Ok-pop supergroup, are planning to undertake army service, the band’s report label confirmed Monday, with Jin, the oldest member, aiming to start out the method on the finish of the month.

Military service is obligatory in South Korea, the place virtually all able-bodied males are required to serve within the military for 18 months by the point they’re 28 years outdated.

South Korea’s parliament passed a bill in 2020 permitting pop stars – specifically those that “excel in fashionable tradition and artwork” – to defer their service till the age of 30.

With Jin turning 30 this 12 months, and the band’s announcement of a break in June from group musical actions to pursue solo tasks, members are actually planning to serve.

BTS is anticipated to reconvene as a gaggle round 2025, in accordance with BIGHIT Music.

The report label stated it has been trying on the timing of the band’s army service, “to respect the wants of the nation and for these wholesome younger males,” and it stated the time was “now.”

“Group member Jin will provoke the method as quickly as his schedule for his solo launch is concluded on the finish of October. He will then comply with the enlistment process of the Korean authorities,” the label stated, including: “Other members of the group plan to hold out their army service primarily based on their very own particular person plans.”

The nation’s protection minister stated in August that BTS may nonetheless have the ability to carry out abroad whereas serving within the army, the Reuters information company reported.