The second member of South Korean group BTS, the first K‑pop band to be nominated for a Grammy, has begun enlistment procedures for compulsory military service, two months after the group’s oldest member began military service. Later Monday, executives confirmed.
The BTS member said last year that he would enlist when Jin turned 30, and he enlisted in December after deferring his enlistment as long as he could.
An official from BigHit Music, which manages the group, said on the 1st that the second member, 29-year-old J‑Hope (real name Jung Hoseok), requested to cancel the postponement of his enlistment.
A statement was released saying, “We would like to inform our fans that J‑Hope has started the military enlistment process.” “Please continue to love and support J‑Hope until he returns safely after completing his military service.”
All able-bodied South Korean men between the ages of 18 and 28 are required to serve in the military for approximately two years.
A 2019 revision to the law allowed globally recognized K‑pop stars to delay enlistment until the age of 30. Some lawmakers have pushed for a drastic reduction in their military service, similar to what is required of Olympic and Asian Games medalists and some classical musicians, but the effort has made little progress. do not have.
South Korea’s defense minister has said it would be possible for BTS members to perform abroad while serving in the military. Many artists have been designated as such “entertainment soldiers.”
In a separate statement on Monday, BigHit said j‑hope would be releasing a solo single titled “on the street” on Friday, saying it was written as a “gift” to share his feelings for his fans.
The seven-member group has been pursuing solo projects since announcing a hiatus in June.
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