Two more BTS megastars, Jungkook and Jimin, released from South Korean military service
The duo salute at an outdoor sporting facility in Yeoncheon after 18 months of South Korean military service. PHOTO: AFP
Two more BTS megastars, Jungkook and Jimin, released from South Korean military service
YEONCHEON, South Korea - Two more BTS members were released from South Korean military service on June 11, bringing the K-pop boy band closer to a reunion as they promised fans a 'better version' of themselves soon.
The septuplet, South Korea's most lucrative musical act, has been on a self-described hiatus since 2022 while its members separately completed their military service, which is mandatory in the South for all men under 30.
More than a thousand fans gathered at the site of a press conference near the two army bases where singer Jimin - whose solo single Who (2024) holds the record for longest-running K-pop song on the Billboard Hot 100 - and singer Jungkook were discharged.
With so many people assembled to greet the music stars, the networks were overloaded and some broadcasters experienced satellite disruptions.
When the members started to speak, their voices were often drowned out by the deafening cheers and joyful screams from the crowd.
'Thank you so much for waiting for us all this time,' Jungkook, 27, said.
'Now that we've been discharged, I believe it's time for us to keep drawing the picture we've always envisioned. We'll make sure to prepare well and show you an even better version of ourselves.'
Jimin said the military 'wasn't an easy place'.
'Still, I carry with me many meaningful memories, and I'll hold on to them for a long time,' said the 29-year-old.
'After experiencing military life firsthand, I can say it truly isn't easy... if you happen to pass by a soldier, even a small word of kindness would mean the world to them,' he added.
Streets in the area were decorated with colourful lampposts and banners.
One read, 'Jungkook's voice, back to the world,' while another read, 'Jimin! Now that you're discharged, how about a world tour?'
Giant banners floated in the sky alongside balloons, with one reading: 'We missed you, Jungkook!'
With the discharge of Jungkook and Jimin, six of the group's members have now completed their military service.
Final member Suga, 32 – who has been working as a social service agent for alternative non-active-duty service – is due out on June 21.
Delighted fans from around the world had gathered as early as 3am, hoping to catch a glimpse of their idols.
'I think I'm gonna cry,' Anaisa Silva, 30, a hotel receptionist from Portugal, said.
'I am an Army of nine years and this is the first time I'm seeing them,' she said, referring to BTS' fandom by its official name.
'We couldn't sleep!' added Rosie Tanquilut, a 64-year-old fan from the Philippines. 'We've been counting the days since they entered military.'
All the band members signed new contracts with their agency Hybe in 2023, and once Suga is released on June 21, analysts expect profit-driving reunion activities.
The members' discharge is 'extremely positive news' for the K-pop industry, Yoo Sung-man, an analyst at Leading Investment and Securities, said.
'Given the long military hiatus for the full group, this upcoming comeback is expected to have a massive global impact across all fronts - music streaming, album sales, and concerts,' Yoo added. AFP
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Buy Blackpink tickets from only Ticketmaster to avoid getting scammed, say police
Ticketmaster is the only authorised platform for tickets to K-pop girl group Blackpink's shows on Nov 29 and 30 at the National Stadium, said the police. PHOTO: YG ENTERTAINMENT Buy Blackpink tickets from only Ticketmaster to avoid getting scammed, say police SINGAPORE - Those with an eye on tickets to K-pop girl group Blackpink's concerts in November should buy them only on Ticketmaster , said the police on June 12 . Ticketmaster is the only authorised platform for tickets to the shows on Nov 29 and 30 at the National Stadium. The police's advisory comes after the pre-sale for Blackpink's Singapore concerts began on June 10 and the Visa Infinite pre-sale started on June 11. General sales kick-off on June 13 at 11am. Tickets range from $168 to $428 , excluding booking fees. A check by The Straits Times on online marketplace Carousell on June 12 showed listings for tickets priced as high as $1,700 . The police added that at least 1,050 reports of scams were lodged involving tickets to Taylor Swift's concert in 2024, with losses totalling at least $658,000 . Victims of such scams came across advertisements for concert tickets on messaging and social media platforms, where scammers sometimes showed screenshots or videos of fake tickets to convince them that the tickets are real. Conmen also claimed there were limited numbers of tickets, which were on sale only for a short period, and promised to deliver the tickets to the victims after successful payment. In cases where victims did not receive their concert tickets, scammers claimed they did not receive payment and asked for more money. These victims realised they had been scammed only when the scammers did not deliver the tickets or became uncontactable, while some of those who received their tickets discovered that their tickets were invalid at concert venues. Those who are found with resale tickets will be turned away from the concert at the Singapore Sports Hub , with no refund, said the police. Ticketmaster's terms and conditions for the sale of these tickets state clearly that tickets cannot be transferred or resold. The police added that it has reached out to platforms like Carousell, Facebook Marketplace and TikTok to remove listings for resale tickets. Also, tickets would typically only be issued to buyers via their Ticketmaster account about two weeks before the event. Ticketmaster will never issue tickets via e-mail. 'The public should also be wary of resellers claiming to be able to transfer their tickets to your Ticketmaster account after purchase, as the tickets are strictly not transferrable,' said the police. To avoid falling for such scams, buyers should use the ScamShield app and set security features, such as transaction limits for internet banking, the police added. If they are unsure if something is a scam, they can call the ScamShield helpline on 1799 . They can also check the legitimacy of suspicious phone numbers, messages and website links through the ScamShield app. For more information on scams, visit Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
International Business Times
4 hours ago
- International Business Times
B: MY BOYZ: SBS New Boy Group Survival Show Preview and Spoilers
SBS has a new musical survival show in the making, titled B: MY BOYZ. The boy group competition program will feature fierce competition among contestants. They do their best to become a part of the new musical band. They will take part in various challenges and showcase their singing skills to win the competition. With 30 contestants, over five masters, and two hosts, the reality show is sure to capture the attention of Korean music lovers worldwide. Here is everything you need to know about this competition program, including the premiere, preview, spoilers, streaming details, contestants, masters, and hosts. When and Where to Watch B: MY BOYZ? The boy group survival show will premiere on SBS on Saturday (June 14) at 5:20 pm KST. Korean music lovers from countries including the US, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, India, China, Canada, and the UK can watch the survival competition show with subtitles on Viki. It will feature contestants competing with one another to prove their ability in singing, performing, and producing. According to the production team, this reality show differs from other competition programs because it will feature globally recognized K-pop idols participating in the show to select the next generation of K-pop stars. Last month, SBS introduced the 30 contestants participating in the musical reality show by sharing their stunning profile photos. The participants are known as B: GINNER and the lineup includes people born between the years 2001 and 2011. Here is the Complete List of Contestants: Kim Bohyeon (May 23, 2001) Hyo (February 9, 2002) Li Zhiwei (May 29, 2002) Jang Won (August 3, 2002) Seo Junhyeok (April 23, 2003) Lim Jihwan (May 24, 2003) Haruto (October 10, 2003) Ikuto (January 8, 2004) Lee Jumyeong (March 25, 2004) Hiroto (July 23, 2004) Yang Chengxi (February 21, 2005) Luo Zhuobin (April 26, 2005) Hwang Heewoo (October 17, 2005) Kang Junseong (October 27, 2005) William (January 31, 2006) Ai (February 5, 2006) Lee Yunsung (June 2, 2006) Jang Huigwang (October 19, 2006) Yang Hyeonbin (October 24, 2006) Park Junhyeok (October 25, 2006) Moon Jaeil (January 10, 2007) Kai (February 6, 2007) Choi Yohan (October 11, 2007) Lee Seongin (February 19, 2008) Kim Jeonghoon (April 22, 2008) Suthaschai (June 12, 2008) Lee Yeontae (March 16, 2009) Didi (August 15, 2009) Park Sechan (October 16, 2009) Ban Daniel (May 3, 2011) Hosts and Master Lineup Entertainer Dex and i-dle member Miyeon will host the SBS musical television show, which will feature a stunning lineup of Masters. The Masters will help the contestants develop their skills in producing, singing, and performing. GFRIEND member Yuju, PENTAGON members Hui and Jinho, and 1MILLION dancers Lia Kim and Lee Yoojung are the Masters of B: MY BOYZ. Jinho and Yuju will help the participants with their vocal skills, while Hui will focus on producing musical programs. Lia Kim and Lee Yoojung will help the contestants with dancing. B: MY BOYZ Synopsis and Teaser The search for the newest boy group is underway! Hosted by DEX and I-DLE's Miyeon, this program features over two dozen talented contestants from across Asia competing in various vocal, performance, and music production challenges to see if they have what it takes to become a K-pop idol. Veteran K-pop stars Hui and Jinho of PENTAGON, Yuju of GFRIEND, and 1MILLION dance studio choreographers Lia Kim and Lee Yoo Jung will mentor the aspiring idols. They will help determine who will make the final lineup. Who will form the final eight? SBS has released a teaser introducing the 30 contestants. The video teases surprises for the participants as it shows them excitedly focusing on the stage.
Business Times
6 hours ago
- Business Times
Tencent said to study deal for US$15 billion game developer Nexon
[BEIJING] Tencent Holdings is studying a potential deal for Nexon, as the Chinese Internet giant looks for ways to bolster its lucrative gaming operations, people with knowledge of the matter said. Shenzhen-based Tencent has reached out to the family of Nexon's late founder Kim Jung-ju to discuss the possibility of an acquisition, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. Kim's family has been speaking to advisers and evaluating options, according to the people. Kim's relatives hold their stake through family investment firm NXC Corp, which – together with affiliated unit NXMH BV – owned 44.4 per cent of Nexon as of June 30, according to Nexon's interim report. Kim's wife and daughters own about 67.6 per cent of NXC. It's unclear how receptive NXC is to a sale of the Nexon holding, and there's no certainty Tencent's deliberations will lead to a transaction, the people said. The structure of any deal hasn't been finalised, they added. A representative for Tencent didn't respond to a request seeking comment, while Nexon and NXC declined to comment. The move comes as Tencent, which already pursued an acquisition of Nexon in 2019, makes fresh forays into other South Korean assets. A subsidiary agreed to buy a nearly 10 per cent stake in Seoul-based music producer SM Entertainment in late May, just as an unofficial ban on K-pop in mainland China wanes. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Known for role-playing games like MapleStory, Nexon was founded in South Korea in 1994 and listed in Japan in 2011, in one of the biggest tech-related initial public offerings at the time. Nexon shares have climbed more than 10 per cent in Tokyo trading this year, giving the company a market value of about $15 billion. Changes in the shareholding structure after Kim's death in 2022 could complicate any deal. Family members handed the Korean government a stake in the NXC holding company in 2023 to settle an inheritance tax bill. Kim's wife and two daughters inherited his stake in NXC after he died in Hawaii. The family also sold treasury shares in NXC back to the holding company for US$478 million in August. The Korean government has sought to sell its holding but failed to find a suitor, local media reported. Shares of rival game developers like Ubisoft Entertainment, GungHo Online Entertainment and Sega Sammy Holdings have declined this year. While Nexon shares are up in 2025, they're nearly 30 per cent off a peak in 2021. NXC explored a sale of its Nexon stake six years ago, attracting interest from Tencent as well as buyout firms such as KKR & Co. and Hillhouse. The sale process was eventually shelved because of a failure to agree on price, Bloomberg News reported at the time. Nexon and Tencent have already worked together, developing Dungeon & Fighter, a key revenue generator. In March, Tencent agreed to invest US$1.3 billion for a 25 per cent stake in a new Ubisoft unit that holds the rights to intellectual properties including Assassin's Creed. Nexon's first-quarter net sales totalled about 114 billion yen (S$1.01 billion), while net income was 26 billion yen. BLOOMBERG
