BTS to enlist in South Korean military, will regroup 'around 2025'


Members of the wildly popular South Korean boy band BTS will officially serve in the country's military and reconvene after their service is completed "around 2025."
Big Hit Music, BTS' label, confirmed in a tweet the group's seven members will all enlist in the South Korean military, following the country's law requiring young men to serve, The New York Times reports. The label said they are "looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025," per The Associated Press.
There had long been questions about whether the members of BTS would enlist in the military or if they might be able to receive an exemption. South Korea requires most able-bodied men to enlist in the military for 18 months by age 28, though the country passed a bill in 2020 allowing those who "excel in popular culture and art" to defer service until 30, CNN reports. Jin, who is the oldest member of the group and turns 30 in December, will enlist first.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Group member Jin will initiate the process as soon as his schedule for his solo release is concluded at the end of October," BTS' label said, per CNN. "He will then follow the enlistment procedure of the Korean government. Other members of the group plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans."
In June, BTS announced they would take a hiatus to pursue solo projects. "I hope you don't see this as a negative thing, and see it as a healthy plan," member J-Hope said at the time. "I think BTS will become stronger that way."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Black women are being pushed out of the workforce en masse
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Employment data shows hundreds of thousands of Black women have left the labor market over the past few months. What's behind this mass exodus?
-
Is Amazon about to take over the grocery business?
Today's Big Question Expanded delivery will present a challenge to Walmart and Kroger
-
Trump halts Gaza visas as Israelis protest war
Speed Read Laura Loomer voiced her concerns over injured Palestinian kids being brought to the US for treatment and a potential 'Islamic invasion'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, Stallone
Speed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's view
Speed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talk
Speed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'
Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards