BTS Will Take a Break as Members Enlist Into South Korea’s Military

The biggest pop band on the planet will grind to a halt as the seven-strong BTS fulfill their mandatory military service.

A statement issued late Monday (Oct. 17) by BigHit Music, and its parent Hybe, confirms the seven-member K-pop superstars will enlist for duty in the South Korean military, ending months of speculation on what the future holds for BTS.

First up, Jin, the oldest member of the band at 30, will initiate the process as soon as he completes the schedule for his solo release at the end of this month, reads a statement

After that time, the other members will be expected to follow suit.

For BTS’ enthusiastic supporter base ARMY, which had the news trending on social media late Monday (Oct. 17), there is a caveat.

The singers are “looking forward to reconvening” as a group around 2025 following the completion of their service, the statement continues.

And in the meantime, the members of the band — Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook — will focus on solo projects, timed around their own military requirements.

BTS

“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,” according to the official statement.

“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.”

In South Korea, a country neighbouring the superpowers China and Russa, all able-bodied men aged 18 and above are required to enlist by the age of 28.

Typically, its citizens serve 18 to 21 months.

BTS aren’t the only stars of the K-pop world to enter the armed forces.

Veteran K-pop star Rain, or Jung Ji-hoon, entered the forces in October 2011 and was officially discharged some 21 months later, having served as an “entertainment soldier” for a unit that promoted the military.

Rain, however, doesn’t shine like BTS. The boy band is a world-beater at the peak of their popularity, with six Billboard No. 1 singles and albums to their name.

The ARMY stretches the globe, and into Australia, where BTS has led the ARIA Albums Chart on three occasions, with June 2022 compilation release Proof, 2020’s Map Of The Soul: 7 and 2019’s Map Of The Soul: Personal.

BTS fans have learned to be patient. The group took a several-week break in 2019, then earlier this year announced another hiatus, sending Hybe’s shareprice south, though enabling each bandmate to pursue a solo career, the entertainment giant said at the time.

BTS reunited for a concert over the weekend in support of Busan’s bid for the World Expo 2030.

[공지] 방탄소년단 병역 이행 및 향후 활동 계획 안내 (+ENG/JPN/CHN) pic.twitter.com/jntF90agO4

— BIGHIT MUSIC (@BIGHIT_MUSIC) October 17, 2022

Read the full statement below:

BIGHIT MUSIC is proud to announce today that the members of BTS are currently moving forward with plans to fulfill their military service. After the phenomenal concert to support Busan’s bid for the World Expo 2030, and as each individual embarks on solo endeavors, it’s the perfect time and the members of BTS are honored to serve.

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. 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. 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.