Jin, first BTS member released from military service

Jin, one of the members of the famous Korean group BTS, has finished his military service. He will meet his fans on Thursday June 13 for a “huggathon”, a marathon of hugs, after a year and a half spent under the flag.

The eldest child of K-pop group BTS, Jin, was released from his mandatory military service in South Korea on Wednesday (June 12) and greeted by other members of the boy band who hugged him, with RM performing one of their saxophone hits to celebrate the event.

Six members of the septet are still serving in the army – a requirement in South Korea where all able-bodied men are called up for at least 18 months due to tensions with the North – forcing the world’s most popular boy band to take a break since 2022.

Jin, 31, the first to enlist, came out of Yeoncheon training camp, 40 km north of Seoul. He was greeted by fellow group members J-hope, V, RM who played the chorus of BTS’ hit on the saxophone Dynamite as well as by Jungkook and Jimin.

Outside the base, fans hung colorful banners that read: “Seok-jin, you have done a good job for the past 548 days. We will support you with our unwavering love”referring to the star by her full first name.

Yeoncheon County set up its own banner reading “BTS Jin, the past year and a half has been a joy for us. Yeoncheon will not forget you!”. Fans had been asked not to attend, and there were only a few fans present early Wednesday outside the camp.

The seven band members appeared together in a photo posted on BTS’ official X account on Wednesday, in a room decorated with balloons reading: “Jin is back.” “I cried when I was discharged” from my military service, Jin said live on Weverse, a social network aimed at K-pop fans, maintaining that he had “well done” under the flags.

HYBE, BTS’ agency, announced Jin’s demobilization on Weverse earlier this week. It comes just before the 11th anniversary of the boy band’s debut. HYBE’s Seoul office and some local cafes were decked out in purple, BTS’ signature color, to mark the event.

Jin will participate in a “huggathon” – a marathon of hugs – on Thursday, during which he will hug 1,000 fans drawn in a raffle organized on Weverse. This is his idea, Jin said on the social network. He will then give his first concert in two years.

“It’s important that Jin completed his military service without any problems, because for a male K-pop idol, military service is the biggest pitfall” for his career, said Yoo Sung-man, analyst at Leading Investment and Securities. “Jin’s release is a sign positive for the share price of the entertainment sector,” he noted.

According to him, “Female K-pop idols have performed well, but there has been a void when it comes to male idols reaching a large audience.” “Once Jin resumes solo activities, it will definitely lead to an increase” in the share price, Yoo Sung-man told AFP.

HYBE shares had gained 2% at the start of the day on Wednesday. “BTS accounts for a large part of HYBE’s profits, so it is very encouraging that the end of BTS members’ military service has begun,” observed Yoo Sung-man. The next BTS member to complete his military service will be J-hope, who will be discharged in October. The others will complete their service in June 2025.