BTS’s record label ‘Big Hit Music’ reveals that all seven members will soon go fulfill their mandatory military duty, after trying to find options for exemptions 

On Nov. 20, 2020 at their BTS ‘BE’ press conference BTS announced that they are expected to serve military time. “Military enlistment is an expected issue as an abled-bodied South Korean man,” BTS said. “If we’re called to the military, we’re ready to serve anytime.”

Kim Seok-Jin, also known as Jin and the oldest of the K-pop group, will be the first of the seven members to join the military. The soon-to-be 30 year old, is expected to enter the military late 2022. The following six members will be enlisted to the military early 2023 and plan to reunite in 2025.  

On Oct. 15 BTS had performed a free concert in Busan, following an announcement of a break in June from group musical activities to solo project with BTS’s oldest member facing South Korea’s mandatory military service “If the seven BTS members feel the same way and if you guys have faith in us, we will overcome whatever happens to us in the future and we will perform with you guys and make music. Please have faith in us. “ BTS leader RM told fans during the concert. 

“Since the creation of BTS over ten years ago, the band has risen to international success, broken records, and catapulted K-pop into the global stratosphere,” Big Hit said. “Big Hit music has focused on 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.” 

In South Korea, it is standard for men to begin a 18 to 21 -month term before their 28th birthday. Those in BTs who have already passed the age threshold have been accommodated with more time while options floated around for them to complete their service in a different capacity.

Under a 2019 revision of the law,  globally recognized K-pop groups and other idols were allowed to put off their military service until their 30s. 

According to ABC News, The National Assembly’s Defense committee would “conduct a survey on how South Korean people feel about conscripting BTS. A majority of 60.9% said they [were] in favor of exempting the groups members from military service while 34.3% opposed the idea.” 

“Not great, as a really famous K-pop group they really shouldn’t be forced to go to the military, it’s very unfortunate, and I hate to see them go.” Assistant theatre tech direct and avid BTS fan Barbie Brown said.

“I think that if the law says that anybody who was exempted from military service in South Korea still needs to serve after the exemptions is up. ” Director of Choirs, Andrew Dahan said, “it’s fair that BTS should have to enlist.”