All BTS members begin military service, talk of group reunion in 2025

BTS fans crowd the Republic of Korea Army Training Center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, Monday, as RM and V, members of the K-pop act BTS, are slated to arrive. Yonhap

Four BTS members — RM, V, Jimin and Jungkook — begin their military duties this week, joining Jin, J-hope and Suga already fulfilling their mandatory service. This development marks the end of the longstanding debate over the possibility of a military service exemption for BTS and sets the stage for the group's anticipated reunion in 2025.

On Monday, RM and V started their military duty at the Republic of Korea Army Training Center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, undergoing basic military training before entering active service in the Army.

In the midst of a light rain, the other five members of BTS gathered at the camp to attend the enlistment ceremony of RM and V. The three members already serving in the military took a break to be present, while Jimin and Jungkook, who were scheduled to enlist the following day, also joined the group for this occasion.

RM reflected on his past decade with the group, expressing his contentment and gratitude on fan community platform Weverse, Sunday, a day before his enlistment.

"I was really happy to live as a BTS member over the past 10 years," he wrote, saying he hopes to gain lessons and inspiration from the experience.

V also shared his anticipation via Weverse as well, saying, "Even though those I'll be going to the military with may be younger than me, I think I'll be able to learn new things."

With Jimin and Jungkook enlisting Tuesday, the entire group completes its transition to military service.

The four members are expected to be discharged in June 2025.

Jin, the group's eldest member, began his military service last December, followed by J-hope in April this year. Since September, Suga has also been serving as a social service worker. The expected discharge dates are in June 2024 for Jin, October 2024 for J-hope and June 2025 for Suga.

BigHit Music, the agency managing BTS and its members, has announced plans for the group to resume full-fledged activities as a septet in 2025, once all members are discharged.

A woman walks past a mural depicting RM, a member of K-pop group BTS, in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Monday, the same day that two more members of K-pop phenomenon BTS — RM and V — were set to start mandatory military service with the final two members — Jimin and Jungkook — expected to enlist Tuesday. AFP-Yonhap

With all members enlisted in the military, the controversy surrounding BTS' military service exemptions has come to an end.

The controversy emerged in 2018 as the group gained unprecedented international fame as a K-pop act. Concerns were raised about the potential impact associated with BTS members fulfilling their military service, mandatory for all able-bodied men in Korea for at least 18 months. The hiatus resulting from their service raised questions about the potential losses in both economic and cultural spheres and ignited a heated debate over whether BTS members should receive special exemptions.

Military service exemptions in Korea are typically granted to individuals in the fields of arts and sports who have contributed significantly to "elevating the nation's prestige" internationally, allowing them to continue their activities without hiatus.

For athletes, this entails achieving at least an Olympic bronze medal or an Asian Games gold medal. In the case of artists, the requirement is to secure at least second place in any of 42 designated fine arts competitions, as specified by the Military Manpower Administration.

Son Heung-min, a gold medalist at the 2018 Asian Games, and Cho Seong-jin, the winner of the International Chopin Piano Competition, have been granted exemptions.

While achievements in pop culture have generally been excluded from the exemptions due to their commercial nature, the BTS members were subject to special consideration.

BTS fans crowd the gate to the Army Training Center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, Monday, as RM and V, members of the K-pop act BTS, are slated to arrive. Yonhap

Advocates have argued that the group's impact extends far beyond commercial success, contending that BTS has "elevated the national prestige" far more than any other artist or athlete.

Notably, BTS made history as the first Asian act to top the Billboard 200 chart in 2018. It also became the inaugural K-pop act to lead the main single chart, the Hot 100, in September 2020. The group's accomplishments were further solidified when it won the Artist of the Year award at the American Music Awards (AMA), one of the top three music awards in the U.S., in November of the following year.

However, a survey by Media Real Research Korea found varied opinions on whether BTS members should fulfill their military duties.

Of the 5,039 adults surveyed, 36 percent believed that granting exemptions was unfair, while 34.6 percent considered it a form of national recognition for those who have elevated the country's global recognition.

Despite varied public opinions, the BTS members have consistently expressed their willingness to fulfill their military obligations as Korean citizens.

Jin once said at a press event, "As an able-bodied Korean man, I think military service is a natural responsibility. If the country calls, I will respond anytime. I frequently discuss this with the members, and I am committed to responding to all military service requirements."