BTS Suga Begins Military Service in South Korea

BTS’s Suga has begun getting ready to report for his obligatory army service in Korea, his administration firm BIGHIT revealed on Weverse on Aug. 7. “We would like to inform our fans that SUGA has initiated the military enlistment process by applying for the termination of his enlistment postponement,” their put up learn, per Billboard. “We ask you for your continued love and support for SUGA until he completes his military service and safely returns. Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artist.”

The information arrives a day after Suga completed his August “D-DAY” tour supporting his newest album. After his closing present, he appeared on Weverse in a dwell broadcast and addressed his followers. “I had a fun tour the last couple of months. I really don’t cry,” he stated. “Those past 10 years went by like a film.” Though he didn’t focus on his enlistment plans, he hinted that it is likely to be some time earlier than followers see him carry out dwell once more. “I think it’s a lie if I say ‘soon,'” he stated. “Let’s see each other in 2025, OK? Please wait a little bit. 2025. See you then!”

In 2022, after years of hypothesis, it was confirmed that the members of BTS would enlist in the South Korean army for nationwide service. Their administration firm introduced the information on Twitter in October 2022, writing, “BIGHIT MUSIC is proud to announce today that the members of BTS are currently moving forward with plans to fulfill their military service.”

All able-bodied males between 18 and 28 should serve round two years in South Korea’s army. Prior to BIGHIT’s announcement, it was extensively debated whether or not BTS members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook can be given exemptions from obligatory service, a transfer that may have required a change in Korea’s army legal guidelines. As it stands, exemptions are solely granted to high-achieving sports activities stars and classical musicians. The band was beforehand granted a deferral in 2020, permitting BTS to delay their duties till the age of 30, although on the time the band’s ages ranged from 24-29.

“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,” the assertion continued. “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.”

On June 20, 2022, BTS launched their anthology album, “Proof,” and 4 days later, they launched their closing FESTA content material, a video of the group gathering for dinner and drinks to have fun their ninth anniversary. They revealed they’d take a hiatus as a gaggle to deal with numerous solo initiatives. However, it quickly grew to become clear that the group hiatus can be a little bit longer than anticipated, with the group not anticipated to come back collectively once more till 2025. “Both the company and the members of BTS are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment,” the assertion added.

On Oct. 15, 2022, BTS held their extremely anticipated “Yet to Come” live performance in Busan to advertise South Korea’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo. Attended by 50,000 ARMYs in particular person, the live performance live-streamed to tens of hundreds of thousands of followers, additional proof of BTS’s world success. “‘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,” the assertion ended.

Read on to be taught all the pieces that is recognized up to now about BTS’s enlistment timeline.

Which BTS Members Have Enlisted in the Korean Military?

Jin started his army service on Dec. 13, 2022, per NPR. J-Hope was the second BTS member to enlist, starting his service in April, and Suga would be the third.

When Will the Rest of BTS’s Members Enlist in the Korean Military?

Many followers interpreted BIGHIT’s announcement to imply all members of BTS would enlist by mid 2023 after the discharge of their particular person initiatives in order that they’d all have accomplished their army service forward of a deliberate 2025 group comeback, and AllKPop additionally reported that every one members would enlist in 2023. However, when POPSUGAR reached out for extra remark in 2022, a HYBE consultant couldn’t give a agency timeline on the remaining members of BTS’s enlistment plans on the time. Reps didn’t instantly reply to POPSUGAR’s request for remark on the time of Suga’s enlistment announcement.

Will BTS Be Allowed to Perform as a Group While Serving in the Korean Military?

Ok-pop idols do not usually carry out with their group as soon as they’ve enlisted for army service, however that will not be the case for BTS.

“If it is for public service to the nation, or for national events or performances which benefit the nation, [BTS] will be allowed to participate in performances and activities should they wish,” a consultant for Korea’s Ministry of Defense stated throughout an everyday press briefing on Oct. 18, 2022, in accordance with an AllKPop report. “This opportunity is already available to some enlisted soldiers.”

Still, it is unclear what performances would fall underneath this exception. “We are not referencing any specific events or promotions at this time,” the consultant added.

The uncertainty surrounding the phrases underneath which BTS would and wouldn’t be allowed to reunite as a gaggle to carry out whereas members are enlisted has had followers and nonfans alike feeling uneasy. “Can they just leave them [to] serve in peace ffs💀 atp i feel bad for them,” one consumer wrote on Twitter. “idk this kinda makes me mad like double work??? why would they do this to them?” another wrote, one other adding, “Noooooooo treat them normally theyre not special as u say.. plsss leave them alone just let them serve peacefully.”

While BTS’s followers have been unhappy in regards to the prospect of the members being away for thus lengthy whereas serving in the Korean army, they knew today would come and have been overwhelmingly supportive of BTS’s resolution. In the meantime, followers have loads of solo music from BTS members to get pleasure from, as J-Hope, Jimin, Jin, RM, and Jungkook all launched initiatives in 2022, and Suga launched “D-Day” on April 21. Also, the group launched a memoir titled “Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS” on July 9.