After BTS's Jimin and Jungkook, ARMY awaits Suga's return
During the last couple of days, four members of South Korea's biggest boyband, BTS, were discharged from mandatory military service. While the other two were discharged previously, Suga aka Min Yoongi is the last member who is yet to complete his term in the military.Suga began his military service on September 22, 2023, as a public service worker due to his shoulder injury. He is expected to be discharged on June 21, 2025. His military duties were changed to public service rather than active duty because of his health issue.advertisementSuga released his debut solo album, D-day under the name Agust D, before enlisting himself in the military. With only a few days left for him to be relieved, BTS's fans aka ARMY are eagerly waiting for the band's reunion. BTS is expected to return to the charts later this year.
Why did they serve in the military? South Korea has a mandatory military service law, which requires all able-bodied men between 18-35 to serve for approximately 18-21 months in the country's military. The law aims to maintain national security and protect the country's sovereignty, as military service in South Korea is considered a civic duty and a patriotic obligation.What happens next?Once Suga is discharged from the military, it is assumed that the band will reunite and continue to make music. Recently, ARMY noticed that J Hope was donning a similar outfit, which the group once wore on their iconic Run BTS episode.advertisementThis led the fans to go berserk with excitement. In a recent interview, with Apple Music 1's The Zane Lowe Show, J-Hope spoke about the band's future. 'I think that over time, we each refined our unique identities as each of us work on their own music, come out with their solo projects and do their own thing. The funny thing for me is when our identities, which have taken shape in various ways, come together as BTS, I'm curious to see what it'll look like. We will quickly get together and talk about what BTS can do in the future. I think it's going to be a massive energy," he said.Must Watch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
BTS Jungkook's apology vs aespa Karina's sorry: K-pop fans drag both over alleged 'MAGA' connection; but ARMY reacts differently
It was on June 13, 2025, that the BTS fandom, called ARMY, saw Jungkook perform on stage after a long time, as he had been enlisted in the South Korean military for his mandatory service. Having been discharged on June 11, he and the eldest member, Jin, made surprise appearances on stage at J-Hope's HOPE ON THE STAGE concert finale, which also marked BTS's debut anniversary. As the fandom was busy showering praises on BTS and all the members who came to the venue, many didn't even realize that a drama was unfolding on social media and various talk forums in South Korea. What drama? It was all about the cap the maknae of BTS wore during rehearsal. What cap did Jungkook wear? As photos of Jungkook from BTS Festa surfaced, some fans leaked images of him rehearsing for his upcoming performance. In one of those photos, K-pop fans spotted him wearing a cap with the slogan "Make Tokyo Great Again" — a phrase that drew immediate comparisons to former U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial "Make America Great Again" motto. The slogan has also been associated with Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko, who has faced criticism for holding an alleged anti-Korean stance. While most of ARMY were initially unaware of the issue, being fully immersed in the excitement of the concert, news quickly spread once Jungkook posted a prompt apology after the event ended. In a detailed message, he directly addressed the controversy and revealed that he had already discarded the cap in question. Acknowledging his mistake, Jungkook wrote, "I wasn't good enough; I was careless. From now on, I will think more deeply and act more cautiously, step by step." He reassured fans and the public that the item had been "disposed of immediately." He ended his message with a sincere, "Once again, I'm sorry," expressing his willingness to accept criticism and learn from the experience. BTS Jungkook's apology vs aespa Karina's sorry While many have moved on after Jungkook's apology, K-pop fans — especially those of aespa — have pointed out a stark contrast. They argued that Karina was dragged for days despite also apologizing. For those unfamiliar with the situation, Karina sparked controversy after posting a photo of herself on Instagram, wearing a black jacket with red patterns and the number 2 printed on the side. The photo, which appeared to be taken on the streets of Japan, included a single red rose emoji — with no additional context. Though it may have seemed harmless to some, the timing and symbolism didn't go unnoticed. The image went viral during South Korea's election period as critics pointed out that the number 2 on her jacket coincided with Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party (PPP) candidate, who was listed as No. 2 on the ballot and is represented by the color red. This led netizens to label her with politically charged nicknames like "Conservative Karina," "No. 2 Voter Karina," and "Patriotic Karina" — all terms associated with conservative voters. Although the post was quickly deleted, the backlash was swift and intense, with many accusing her of subtly expressing political leanings — intentional or not. ARMY give reasons why Jungkook's apology was better After the issue escalated, Karina issued an apology. "I apologize to fans for creating this misunderstanding," Karina wrote on the paid fan platform Bubble. "I didn't have any intentions [with the post], and I will act more carefully in the future." However, many were unhappy with the apology. First, she didn't post it on Instagram — the very platform where the controversy started. Second, the apology didn't clearly explain what exactly she was apologizing for. As for Jungkook, many believe his apology was straightforward and timely. He addressed the situation even before it escalated further, which earned him praise for being proactive and sincere. no because he handled it better. Next! since karina fans wants to drag this more. heres the difference :karina : had no clear apology, not admitting her mistake only "im sorry for worrying you" jungkook : was quick to address the issue, apologised properly and mentioned that he discarded the hat. the apology Hey so actually Karina posted her apology on a paid fan app and it was like 4 sentences with no mention of what she's done. Meanwhile jungkook released his own apology before his company, owned up and discarded the hat. It was a clean and fast apology she posted a photo during election week with the party's color, the party's number, and even the election symbol in her caption, of course it's not the same. BTS Jungkook encounters a sasaeng outside his home Meanwhile, Jungkook recently found himself at the center of a deeply unsettling sasaeng incident. According to reports from Korean media, a Chinese woman in her 30s attempted to illegally enter his residence on the very day he was discharged from the military — a moment that was meant to mark his peaceful return to civilian life. Fortunately, the woman was arrested by authorities. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
BTS' Jungkook starts political stir with his hat: Why he had to apologise
Jungkook, South Korean boy band BTS' member, had to apologise for wearing a hat 2025 BTS Festa with slogan 'Make Tokyo Great Again' during his first public appearance after his release from the military service, sparking a political stir among the masses and a backlash. Jungkook immediately issued an apology. As photos of Jungkook from BTS Festa emerged, showing him wearing a hat with the slogan 'Make Tokyo Great Again,' many drew parallels to US President Donald Trump's politically charged 'Make America Great Again' phrase – also being adopted by Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko, accused of an 'anti-Korean' stance. Given Jungkook's massive fan following, many felt that wearing the hat was a careless and potentially offensive gesture on the singer's part. As he drew a massive backlash for his gesture, Jungkook issued an apology to his fans and to everyone who was offended. 'I am just sorry,' he said. Jungkook said he was 'careless' and from now on, 'he would think more deeply.' 'I deeply regret that I failed to properly recognize the historical and political significance of the phrase before wearing it. I fully acknowledge my lack of awareness and care that has led to disappointment and hurt,' he said. Koike Yuriko has faced accusations of holding an 'anti-Korean' stance and having ties to Zaitokukai, a group widely regarded as a hate organisation. The Japanese politician has also been criticised for allegedly refusing to acknowledge historical atrocities such as the Kanto Massacre. BTS members Jungkook and Jimin were released from South Korean military service – mandatory in the South for all men under 30 – bringing the K-pop supergroup closer to a reunion as they promised fans a 'better version' of themselves soon. More than a thousand fans gathered at the site of a press conference near the two Army bases on Wednesday, June 11, where singers Jimin and Jungkook were discharged. 'Thank you so much for waiting for us all this time,' Jungkook said, addressing his fans. '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.'
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
BTS' fans debate if Jungkook knew history before wearing Make Tokyo Great Again cap; K-pop star apologises for being ‘careless'
BTS' Jungkook had recently completed his military service and made his return to the stage after a long break. The K-pop star was rehearsing for J-Hope's HOPE ON THE STAGE concert in Goyang, a surprise act marking the group's 12th anniversary at FESTA 2025. However, then backstage pictures of the members started surfacing, and one shot of the Euphoria crooner quickly went viral. Jungkook was seen wearing a black cap with the phrase, 'Make Tokyo Great Again' printed on it. At first, it might've looked like another version of 'Make America Great Again,' but the wording triggered instant outrage among Korean netizens, given the history between the two nations. Jungkook has since apologised for wearing the cap, but fans are now divided, questioning whether he truly understood the weight of what he was wearing. Also read: BTS' V says he can't tolerate 'person with childish behaviour' now: What Taehyung's changed personality after military discharge reveals 'It weighs heavily on my heart to write this after seeing you all again after such a long time.' As backlash grew, Jungkook didn't wait for his agency, HYBE, to step in and penned a long apology note on Weverse. He admitted to disappointing and hurting sentiments of fans over the cap and confessed he didn't fully understand the political and historical significance behind the phrase before wearing it 'carelessly'. 'I fully acknowledge my lack of awareness and care that has led to disappointment and hurt,' he wrote. Jungkook made it clear there was no excuse, regardless of the reason. ' It was my fault and I was careless. From now on, I will think deeply about every decision and act more carefully. I humbly accept all the criticism and concerns regarding my mistake.' Also read: BTS' Jungkook and Jimin discharged from military: Get shy seeing ARMYs, giggle and hide behind bouquets; first photos and videos go viral It is widely believed that in Japan, politicians like Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko used this same phrase in the context of Japanese nationalism. At times, it's been linked to national pride, anti-Korean sentiments, and even historical denial tied to Japan's colonisation of Korea. Today, the country remains one of the biggest markets for K-pop, with almost every group flocking there where album sales hit the roof. But these two countries share a long, complicated, and painful past, especially Japan's rule over Korea from 1910 to 1945. And thus, making any reference to that period highly sensitive in Korea. Jungkook's quick apology instantly slowed down the backlash, with many praising him for taking full responsibility without trying to explain it away or shift blame. 'I respect Jungkook for handling it so maturely. The fact that he didn't even wait for a statement but addressed it himself, apologised, and shut it down before it could escalate,' one wrote. But some were still left deeply disappointed and questioned how he could be so unaware of such a sensitive issue. 'Not a single staff member stopped this?' one asked. 'I can't accept Jungkook's ignorance,' another said. 'I'm not even a fan, but if you just skim the phrase, it can sound as random as 'Paris in the Rain' or 'London Bagel Museum.' But I do think it's possible he really didn't know,' a third pointed out. 'I'm an ARMY, but I honestly believe Jungkook wore it without knowing. That said, even if he didn't know, it was still wrong and there's no excuse.' A fourth chimed in, 'The bigger debate is whether he wore it intentionally. But it's hard to believe anyone would publicly wear something like that if they were willing to risk everything they've built, It's a serious problem if a celebrity doesn't know this kind of stuff in today's climate.'
