BTS, the biggest act in K-pop and one of the hottest contemporary music acts in the world, will be forced to take a hiatus until 2024 and most of 2025 after it was confirmed on Wednesday that four members of the group – RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook – will soon be enlisting in the Korean military.
The four follow Jin, who enlisted in December last year, J-Hope (April) and Suga, who have already begun their compulsory military service.
The news was announced by Big Hit Music via social media. “We would like to inform our fans that RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook have started the process of military enlistment. The artists are preparing to fulfil their military service obligations. We will inform you of further updates in due course. We ask for your continued love and support for RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook until they complete their military service and return safely. Our company will spare no effort in supporting our artists. Thank you very much.
All able-bodied men are required to serve in the military for 18 to 21 months. Local media in Korea reported that the four were allowed to defer their military service until the end of the year they turn 30 under a revised conscription law in 2020, but have opted to speed up the process and are likely to be called up later this year or in early 2024. The band hope to reunite in 2025.
Since Jin’s move almost a year ago, the band has already been on hiatus, with members pursuing solo careers. All seven members of the globe-trotting band have charted solo on the Billboard charts.
However, the seven-piece recently renewed their contracts with Big Hit Music in anticipation of a return to group activity after the enforced hiatus. “BigHit Music will take into consideration the military service status of some of the members and plans to sign each BTS member sequentially,” a statement read. “The members who are currently serving in the military will have completed their military service by the start of the renewed exclusive contract period in 2025,” parent company Hybe Corp. said in September.
