BTS’ Oldest Member Jin Has Begun Serving In South Korea’s Mandatory Military Service
Jin, the oldest member of K-pop boy band BTS, has started South Korea’s mandatory military service on Dec. 13.
Jin, the oldest member of K-pop boy band BTS, has started South Korea’s mandatory military service on Tuesday Dec. 13.
In October, BTS’ management company officially confirmed that the K-pop superstars will serve in South Korea’s mandatory military service, starting with Jin.
The rest of the members will carry out their military service based on their personal plans, it said in a statement.
The announcement came just months after the band announced they were taking a break to rediscover themselves and focus on solo projects.
30-year-old Jin reported to a training center in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi, on Tuesday Dec. 13, accompanied by the other BTS members, who did not miss an opportunity to send him off.
“See you soon,” BTS’ leader RM wrote on Instagram.
Days before enlisting, Jin posted a photo of his new hairstyle to Korean social media, Weverse, with the caption, “I look cuter than I thought.”
All South Korean men are required to cut their hair in a buzzcut style before entering military service, which lasts about 20 months and is mandatory for all able-bodied South Korean men aged between 18 and 28.
Another video of his hair being cut is also going viral on social media.
In 2020, South Korea’s parliament passed a bill that would allow globally recognized K-pop stars such as BTS to postpone mandatory military service until they turn 30.
Some had called for BTS members to be exempted, as other high-profile classical musicians and athletes who have won medals at the Olympics or other significant games have been in the past.
BTS’ loyal fans – commonly known as ARMY – stayed away from the training center after Jin asked them to respect the other men and family members who were enlisting on the same day.
Reporters said they saw very few BTS fans outside the premises on the day.
BTS’ management company said BTS members will reconvening as a group again “around 2025” following their service commitment.
