20 Accomplishments By BTS' Jimin During His Mandatory Military Service

Forbes

a day ago

YEONCHEON-GUN, SOUTH KOREA - JUNE 11: BTS members Jimin and Jungkook discharged from military ... More service as they arrive at Yeoncheon Public Stadium in Yeoncheon-gun, South Korea, on June 11, 2025. (Photo by Hwawon Lee/Anadolu via Getty Images)
From the moment Jimin swapped his sparkling sequins for camo on December 12, 2023, the BTS superstar has proven that service doesn't mean silence.
Across conquering the charts, winning major awards, and delivering heartfelt charity donations, BTS' dance maestro has continued to shine brightly in the global spotlight.
With his mandatory South Korean military service culminating with his highly anticipated discharge alongside band mate Jung Kook for today, June 11, 2025, take a moment to look back at 20 standout milestones he achieved while in uniform these past 18 months.
Shortly after enlisting in his service, Jimin delivered a holiday present in 'Closer Than This,' a fan-dedicated track originally cut during recording for his 2023 solo album Face. The heartfelt thank-you to ARMY set the tone for his service period, demonstrating gratitude and open communication even while he was away.
Barely a month into service, Jimin was honored with one of the main 'Bonsang' awards at the 33rd Seoul Music Awards on January 2, 2024 — proof that his solo efforts would continue to resonate in the new year while he completed his conscription.
Recognized for welfare contributions in February, Jimin was enshrined in the Namgu Hometown Love Donation System's Hall of Fame after a donation of five million Korean won (approximately $3,650). The Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made donations of more than three million Korean won, with only seven members included at the time of Jimin's gift.
Media reports noted that Jimin wanted to donate to this specific Busan neighborhood as it's where his father runs a cafe, highlighting his commitment to uplifting his community at large.
Despite it being his first time nominated for the Hanteo Music Awards as a soloist, Jimin pulled off three wins, landing an Artist of the Year honor, as well as winning the Global Artist Awards for both the Oceania and South America regions at the February ceremony.
Forbes Korea ranked Jimin Number Seven on its 2024 Power Celebrity list, the highest spot for any K-pop solo star, affirming his clout both in and out of uniform upon its reveal on April 24, 2024.
The superstar gifted a very generous 100 million Korean won (more than $73,000) to the South Gyeongsang Provincial Office of Education in May 2024 to create scholarships for underprivileged students, underscoring his commitment to empowering young people's futures — a message true in BTS' music from the start.
Jimin and JK fronted an eight-episode travel reality show for Disney+ during their first summer away from fans. The Are You Sure?! The series showcased the band mates' genuine chemistry and global adventures during its airing from August 8 through September 19, 2024, which made the duo feel closer to viewers.
Despite being mid-service, Jimin unleashed his sophomore solo album, Muse, on July 19, 2024, featuring the experimental pre-release single 'Smeraldo Garden Marching Band' featuring rapper Loco, his globally focused English lead single 'Who,' the Sofia Carson duet 'Slow Dance' and more to show his expanding artistry.
When Muse's lead single 'Who' debuted atop Billboard's Digital Song Sales chart on August 3, 2024, it marked Jimin's sixth solo Number One and made him the Korean soloist with the most chart-toppers on the U.S. ranking, surpassing his previous tie with his BTS band mate Jung Kook.
But the massive response to 'Who' wasn't limited to just the U.S. The track also became Jimin's first to debut atop both Billboard's Global 200 and the Global Excl. US 200 charts.
After already making a 100 million Korean won donation for scholarships earlier in the year, Jimin followed up in September with another 100 million to fund scholarships and provide aid for living and medical expenses for the families of fellow service members facing hardship.
About two months after his military-focused donation, the Community Chest of Korea's Chungnam branch inducted Jimin into its honor society in recognition of his ongoing dedication to philanthropic leadership.
American radio continues to be one of the toughest areas for artists to crack, but Jimin managed to hit a major milestone on October 5, 2024, when 'Who' reached No. 26 on Billboard's Pop Airplay chart. The song spent 10 weeks as one the biggest hits on Top 40 radio in the U.S. — surpassing his prior radio peak as a soloist ('Angel, Pt. 1' with Kodack Black, NLE Choppa, JVKE and Muni Long peaked at No. 25 and only charted six weeks) to cement crossover appeal all on his own.
While the 2024 MTV European Music Awards took place in Manchester, England that year, Jimin snagged the Best K-Pop award in a nod to his continuing solo dominance on one of the continent's biggest music shows.
While BTS had secured Daesang awards (which refers to a top prize with only one winner) during the members' military service, Jimin earned one of the night's biggest honors when he took home the Visa Fans' Choice of the Year Daesang award over 19 other contending artists.
On top of that, he was among the Fans' Choice Top 10 – Male winners alongside his band mates RM, V, and Jung Kook. It all served as an ultimate showcase of the relentless global fan support Jimin had as he neared his one-year enlistment anniversary.
Further demonstrating his dedication to his community, Jimin donated 30 million Korean won (approximately $22,000) to the Busan Habitat Challenge, a project aimed at improving living conditions for the elderly in his hometown of Busan.
In February 2025, Jimin's global star power was immortalized with his inclusion on the Madame Tussauds Hot 100 list, marking him as one of the world's most influential entertainers, spanning talent in acting, music, fashion, sports, and culture worldwide. According to the famous wax museum, 'unlike other fame indexes, the Hot 100 blends Madame Tussauds' historical expertise in recognizing lasting fame with cutting-edge data analysis, making it a distinct and anticipative guide to the stars shaping tomorrow's cultural landscape.'
Jimin made the 2025 alongside K-pop stars like Jung Kook, Cha Eunwoo, Chung Ha, Rosé, Lisa and many more global celebs.
'Who' claimed K-Pop Song of the Year at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 17, 2025 — adding another U.S. radio milestone to Jimin's military-era resume.
On the Billboard chart dated March 20, 2025, 'Who' managed to spend a 33rd week inside the upper rankings of the Billboard Hot 100, ultimately breaking BTS' own 'Dynamite' record for the longest-charting track by a K-pop act in U.S. history. Read more about that achievement here from Forbes' Hugh McIntyre:
When the American Music Awards unveiled its 2025 nominations on April 23, 2025, Jimin earned his first AMA nod as a soloist with Favorite K-Pop Artist.
With just days until Jimin was discharged from his military service, 'The Truth Untold' exhibit launched in New York City on May 31, 2025, allowing fans to step directly into his mind as he created his solo albums Face and Muse.
According to TimeOut New York, fans can see 'handwritten lyric notebooks, production diaries and behind-the-scenes footage from recording sessions, dance practices and live performances' throughout the space.