members of K-pop group BTS will finally have to do their military service

The members of the famous South Korean K-pop group BTS, who returned to the stage in Busan (South Korea) on Saturday October 15 for the first time after announcing a break four months ago, will do their military service. This was announced by their agency on Monday (October 17), ending a years-long debate over whether the stars deserve an exemption from mandatory service in their home country of South Korea.

“BTS Members Are Moving Forward With Their Plans To Complete Their Military ServiceBTS’s agency Bighit Music said in a statement on Monday. with North Korea and refusing to perform compulsory service is punishable by imprisonment in that country.

BTS has generated billions of dollars for the South Korean economy, and the label’s profits have continued to climb despite the pandemic and declining concert numbers. But the prospect of military service is getting closer for the members of the group, with Jin, 29, who must report by December or face incarceration.

“As everyone embarks on solo projects, now is the perfect time and the members of BTS are honored to serve.their country, according to the agency’s statement.Jin will start the process as soon as (…) his solo album will be completed at the end of October“, specifies the agency, while “the other members of the group plan to do their military service according to their own individual plans“.

Korea’s most famous boy band has already benefited from a revision of the conscription law in 2020, which raised the age limit from 28 to 30 for certain artists. Seoul’s defense minister had said in August that BTS could be allowed to continue performing and preparing for international concerts while fulfilling their military obligations.