K-pop stars BTS to serve in the military

SEOUL — K-pop boy group BTS will perform their mandatory military service, starting shortly with eldest member Jin, their agency announced Monday.

Jin, 29, has postponed his service for as long as he can and faces the looming prospect of a full stint – that is, nearly two years out of public view – when he turns 30 in December.

Since their debut in 2013, BTS have become a global sensation with their upbeat hits and social campaigns aimed at empowering young people.

“Jin will cancel the enlistment delay request at the end of October 2022 and follow the relevant enlistment procedures of the military personnel administration,” the seven-member group management group HYBE (352820.KS) said in a filing. regulatory.

All other members will also serve mandatory military duty according to their respective plans, he added.

« The company and members of BTS look forward to reuniting as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment, » Bighit Music, owned by HYBE, which manages BTS, said in a separate statement.

All able bodied males in South Korea between the ages of 18 and 28 must serve in the military for 18 to 21 months as part of defense efforts against nuclear-armed North Korea. Some categories, however, have been granted exemptions or served shorter sentences, including Olympic and Asian Games medalists and classical musicians and dancers who take top prizes at certain competitions. Some lawmakers had requested that BTS be exempted.

BTS announced a June hiatus from the group’s musical activities to pursue solo projects, raising questions about the group’s future.

They gathered to perform a free concert Saturday in the city of Busan in support of South Korea’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo in the port city.