‘Loyalty and victory': BTS' RM and V discharged, Army welcomes them back
Fans from around the world flock to Seoul to celebrate the stars' return
CHUNCHEON, Gangwon Province — BTS members RM and V completed their mandatory military service Tuesday morning, emerging in uniform at a sports park in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, after 18 months of enlistment.
RM, wearing sunglasses, appeared playing the soundtrack from the Japanese anime 'Detective Conan' on a saxophone. V followed with a broad smile and a large bouquet in hand.
The two stood before the press and saluted before shouting 'Chungseong!' (loyalty) and 'Pilseung!' (victory) to mark the end of their service.
'I'm Sergeant Kim Nam-joon of the 15th Division military band, officially discharged today. I'm finally out,' RM said. 'Honestly, I think we might've served one of the shortest military terms in history. The conditions have improved a lot. There were tough and painful moments, of course, but during our service, I came to deeply appreciate the many people who have protected this country,' he said.
He continued, 'It was a meaningful time where I could grow closer to fellow soldiers who had already completed their service.'
'I want to thank Army (BTS fan name) for waiting for us,' he added. 'Now, I'm ready to hit the ground running again as RM of BTS. Thank you to everyone who waited and looked after us.'
V followed with a salute, saying, 'Sergeant Kim Tae-hyung, honorably discharged. Loyalty.'
He added, 'It was a time for me to reset both physically and mentally. I really want to run to Army as soon as I can. Thank you for waiting for us during our military service. If you can wait just a little longer, I promise to return with an amazing performance.'
Looking ahead, RM expressed excitement for what is next.
'What I want to do most is perform. I'll work hard on the next album and return to the stage soon,' he said with a smile. 'No more going back to base — it's time to return to the stage.'
While the discharge ceremony was not open to the public for safety reasons, around 100 fans from Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, Japan and other countries gathered at the venue to welcome the stars.
A large balloon above the sports park read, 'V is back, Taehyung, congratulations on your discharge. We support your new beginning.' Sightseeing buses wrapped in V's image were parked near the venue.
Streets in front of Hybe building turn purple
Meanwhile, in Yongsan-gu, central Seoul, hundreds of fans gathered in front of Hybe's headquarters from early morning to mark the members' return.
Trucks and buses with congratulatory messages and large images of RM and V lined the streets, while fans, many dressed in purple — BTS' symbolic color — waved their national flags and photos of the BTS members.
Jayna, 28, flew in from the UK to join the celebration.
'This feels incredible. To be here in Seoul, to see the place where BTS grew up and started singing and dancing — it's amazing,' she said. 'I want to say to RM and V that you are a massive inspiration, and I love you so much!'
Ivory, 24, from Australia, arrived four days ago to take part in BTS Festa and the members' discharge events. 'I'm going to attend BTS Festa, go to J-Hope's concert in Goyang and celebrate the members' discharge,' she said, holding an Australian flag. BTS Festa is an annual celebration of BTS' debut on June 13, and this year's event will take place at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, June 13-14.
'To RM and V, thank you so much for your hard work. It's been a long, long time without you. I'm so glad you're back and finally free to do whatever you want to do,' Ivory added.
Leilani Santos, an Army in her 50s also from Australia, said, 'I think we've all waited a long time, and we've kept the love alive. We want to reassure BTS that we're not going anywhere.'
With RM and V now discharged, BTS is one step closer to regrouping.
Jin and J-Hope were discharged last year in June and October, respectively. Jimin and Jungkook are scheduled to complete their service Wednesday, while Suga will be discharged June 21.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
2 hours ago
- Korea Herald
BTS' Jimin, Jungkook set to finish military service
Jimin and Jungkook, members of K-pop megagroup BTS, will be discharged from the South Korean military on Wednesday after completing their 18-month mandatory service, as fans eagerly await their return. The two stars enlisted together as active-duty soldiers in December 2023 and have been serving in the Army's 5th Infantry Division Artillery Brigade. Their discharge follows that of Jin and J-Hope, who completed their service in June and October of last year, respectively, and RM and V, who were discharged Tuesday. The K-pop septet is anticipated to return as a full group after Suga, who is serving as a social service agent due to health issues, completes his duty on June 21. Jimin and Jungkook, both vocalists of the band, have also actively pursued solo projects, each topping the US Billboard's main singles chart, Hot 100, with their singles "Like Crazy" and "Seven." In January, Jimin expressed his strong desire to return to the stage in a post on Hybe's K-pop fan community platform Weverse. "After the new year, the conversations Jungkook and I have before going to sleep have changed a lot," Jimin wrote. "Because the day when we'll reunite with ARMY is getting closer and closer, we're having many conversations about what we need to prepare before we meet them again, what we'll show and what kind of lives we'll lead in the future." (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
19 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Which exhibition will pique RM's interest?
Korean art world keeps eyes on which exhibitions the celebrity will visit following his military discharge The art circle has been desperate for an opportunity to liven up the mood amid the Korean art market slump, and, at long last, here comes BTS' RM with the star power to create a buzz in the scene. RM, known as an avid art lover, was discharged from mandatory military service on Tuesday, and now many are interested in what his next move may be where the arts are concerned. Before joining the military, he was often spotted at exhibitions across the country. He collected art and donated to a museum. A photo on social media or a rumor of a visit to a certain exhibition often resulted in long lines at the museums and galleries as fans made visits, following their heartthrob. 'When he visited us, he would do so without giving us prior notice. He would quietly come to the gallery to see art when it is not too crowded,' said a gallerist in Seoul, adding that an influencer like RM is unprecedented in the art world. 'No other idol has fans like this — they seem quite serious about art. They do not simply come and take photographs. They purchase brochures and study the artists. It seems his fans consider art a way to get to know the celebrity better — his tastes and thoughts,' he said. The idol singer embarked on an art tour ahead of his discharge, posting a couple of photographs from his visit to Kukje Gallery in Seoul for the exhibition 'Next Painting: As We Are' that features young Korean painters and another show, 'A Faraway Today,' which both kicked off last week. 'He has shown quite a lot of interest in Korean art with in-depth knowledge. People often say there has been no influencer or celebrity who can bring such a big interest to an exhibition like RM. Many people in the art circle have been waiting for his discharge from military service,' said an official from an auction house. 'We do not think that his visits to exhibitions will directly lead to sales, but we expect that his comeback will definitely bring a fresh mood to the art scene that has been in a downturn,' he said. When RM uploaded a photo from the exhibition 'Kwon Jin Kyu Centennial: Angel of Atelier' at the Seoul Museum of Art in 2022, where a 45-centimeter-tall terracotta sculpture 'Horse" RM had collected was on display, the museum saw a huge influx of visitors, many of them RM's fans, according to the city-run museum. 'RM has contributed to the art scene by breaking the perception that art is something difficult and complex for the general audience,' said Han Hee-jean, curator from the Seoul Museum of Art. 'Even during his service in the military, RM visited the museum to see 'Turbulent Times: Women, Life, Art' last year.' Another gallerist in Seoul said that while she acknowledges that RM's influence in the Korean art scene has been huge, she was cautious to place too much anticipation on his activities bringing about a change in the arts sector. 'The art market consists of many layers and has different factors behind it. It would not be proper to say that a single celebrity could lead a revival of the art scene, but it is true that people are curious about what exhibitions he will visit from now on,' the gallerist said.
Korea Herald
20 hours ago
- Korea Herald
‘Loyalty and victory': BTS' RM and V discharged, Army welcomes them back
Fans from around the world flock to Seoul to celebrate the stars' return CHUNCHEON, Gangwon Province — BTS members RM and V completed their mandatory military service Tuesday morning, emerging in uniform at a sports park in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, after 18 months of enlistment. RM, wearing sunglasses, appeared playing the soundtrack from the Japanese anime 'Detective Conan' on a saxophone. V followed with a broad smile and a large bouquet in hand. The two stood before the press and saluted before shouting 'Chungseong!' (loyalty) and 'Pilseung!' (victory) to mark the end of their service. 'I'm Sergeant Kim Nam-joon of the 15th Division military band, officially discharged today. I'm finally out,' RM said. 'Honestly, I think we might've served one of the shortest military terms in history. The conditions have improved a lot. There were tough and painful moments, of course, but during our service, I came to deeply appreciate the many people who have protected this country,' he said. He continued, 'It was a meaningful time where I could grow closer to fellow soldiers who had already completed their service.' 'I want to thank Army (BTS fan name) for waiting for us,' he added. 'Now, I'm ready to hit the ground running again as RM of BTS. Thank you to everyone who waited and looked after us.' V followed with a salute, saying, 'Sergeant Kim Tae-hyung, honorably discharged. Loyalty.' He added, 'It was a time for me to reset both physically and mentally. I really want to run to Army as soon as I can. Thank you for waiting for us during our military service. If you can wait just a little longer, I promise to return with an amazing performance.' Looking ahead, RM expressed excitement for what is next. 'What I want to do most is perform. I'll work hard on the next album and return to the stage soon,' he said with a smile. 'No more going back to base — it's time to return to the stage.' While the discharge ceremony was not open to the public for safety reasons, around 100 fans from Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, Japan and other countries gathered at the venue to welcome the stars. A large balloon above the sports park read, 'V is back, Taehyung, congratulations on your discharge. We support your new beginning.' Sightseeing buses wrapped in V's image were parked near the venue. Streets in front of Hybe building turn purple Meanwhile, in Yongsan-gu, central Seoul, hundreds of fans gathered in front of Hybe's headquarters from early morning to mark the members' return. Trucks and buses with congratulatory messages and large images of RM and V lined the streets, while fans, many dressed in purple — BTS' symbolic color — waved their national flags and photos of the BTS members. Jayna, 28, flew in from the UK to join the celebration. 'This feels incredible. To be here in Seoul, to see the place where BTS grew up and started singing and dancing — it's amazing,' she said. 'I want to say to RM and V that you are a massive inspiration, and I love you so much!' Ivory, 24, from Australia, arrived four days ago to take part in BTS Festa and the members' discharge events. 'I'm going to attend BTS Festa, go to J-Hope's concert in Goyang and celebrate the members' discharge,' she said, holding an Australian flag. BTS Festa is an annual celebration of BTS' debut on June 13, and this year's event will take place at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, June 13-14. 'To RM and V, thank you so much for your hard work. It's been a long, long time without you. I'm so glad you're back and finally free to do whatever you want to do,' Ivory added. Leilani Santos, an Army in her 50s also from Australia, said, 'I think we've all waited a long time, and we've kept the love alive. We want to reassure BTS that we're not going anywhere.' With RM and V now discharged, BTS is one step closer to regrouping. Jin and J-Hope were discharged last year in June and October, respectively. Jimin and Jungkook are scheduled to complete their service Wednesday, while Suga will be discharged June 21.
