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J-Hope of BTS Reflects on His Time in the South Korean Military: ‘I've Learned a Different Life'

J-Hope of BTS Reflects on His Time in the South Korean Military: ‘I've Learned a Different Life'

Yahoo30-04-2025

After spending 18 months in the South Korean military, J-Hope says he is a very different person now that he's back on the streets as a civilian.
In an interview with Apple Music 1's Zane Lowe, the BTS star opened up about his time serving his county leading up to the day he was discharged in October. J-Hope is only the second member of the boy band to finish his enlistment, following Jin; RM, Suga, V, Jimin and Jung Kook will return home from the military this June.
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'I think it's only natural for young people in South Korea to take on this responsibility,' the 'Chicken Noodle Soup' singer told Lowe. 'I thought it was a very important part of J-Hope's or Jung Ho-seok's life. After all, I am a proud citizen of South Korea. I love my country. There are things that I cherish in this country.'
'It's a different experience,' he continued. 'Also, in reality, I've learned a different life. And in many ways, I got to meet people from all walks of life and I received a lot of good energy. And I heard a lot of good things. But also, you know, a year and a half is actually not a very short time. That bit made me feel a lot of things. In the end, I think the most important thing was I realized how important the work I've been doing for all these years is incredibly meaningful to me.'
J-Hope, who continued to release solo projects during his enlistment, added, 'Even though I was in the service, I think there was a part of me who never really let go of my love for music.'
Their collective service to the military has meant that the members of BTS have been on a break for about two years, last releasing an album in 2020, when Be reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Like Jimin, all of the other Bangtan Boys have also worked on solo releases throughout the band's time away.
The break will soon be over, however with J-Hope also teasing on Apple Music 1 that he and his bandmates plan to reunite pretty much as soon as possible. 'We will quickly get together and talk about what BTS can do in the future,' he told Lowe. 'I think it's going to be a massive energy.'
Watch J-Hope's full interview with Lowe below.
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20 Accomplishments By BTS' RM During His South Korean Military Service
20 Accomplishments By BTS' RM During His South Korean Military Service

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  • Forbes

20 Accomplishments By BTS' RM During His South Korean Military Service

RM of BTS attends a discharge ceremony held at the soccer field of Sinbuk-eup Sports Park in ... More Chuncheon-si on June 10, 2025 in Chuncheon, South Korea. (Photo by The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images) Despite trading the stage for service when he enlisted in his mandatory South Korean military service on December 11, 2023, RM's international momentum did not come to a halt with the 18 months away marking a period of greater creativity, impact, and recognition for the BTS leader. From multiplatinum albums to new milestones on the charts, global honors to heartfelt philanthropy, RM (real name Kim Namjoon) shows how his service break continued his superstar incline. Ahead of RM's release on June 10, 2025, here are 20 standout accomplishments he notched up during his time out of the spotlight. On April 27, 2024, the music video to RM's solo single 'Wild Flower' featuring Youjeen crossed the 100 million–view mark on YouTube just over 16 months after its December 2022 release. 2. Released His Second Solo Studio Album, Right Place, Wrong Person Even while enlisted, RM dropped his sophomore solo album, Right Place, Wrong Person, on May 24, 2024. The experimental LP showcased his growth as a songwriter, a curator of genre-blending tracks and a globally minded collaborator that resonated deeply with fans and critics worldwide. Right Place, Wrong Person debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart dated June 8, 2024, moving 54,000 units to mark RM's highest-charting and best-selling debut for an album in America, even though he wasn't able to promote it like a traditional release. By mid-July 2024, RM's Right Place, Wrong Person had been certified double platinum on Korea's Circle Charts with over 500,000 copies sold despite his absence from active promotions. To mark his 30th birthday on September 12, 2024, RM donated 100 million Korean won (approximately $87,400 at the time of donation) to support veterans' welfare programs. Allocated between the Everyone's Veterans' Dream and the Uniformed Workers Appreciation Campaign causes, the contributions will provide support and treatment to service personnel and bereaved families. Namjoon has previously demonstrated his dedication to service members after being appointed Public Relations Ambassador for South Korea's Ministry of National Defense Agency Remains Excavation and Investigation Team, which works to find and identify the remains of war veterans. In yet another display of the international art community's appreciation for RPWP, the 'LOST!' music video earned a nod at the Shots Awards EMEA, which honors the best in creative advertising, specifically from agencies based in the Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions. 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On December 5, 2024, the RM: Right People, Wrong Place documentary premiered in theaters worldwide, expanding its reach beyond festival circuits and offering fans a front-row, theatrical experience of the eight-month creative journey that led to the creation of his RPWP album. By the end of 2024, when all the best of the year lists had wrapped, Right Place, Wrong Person had the distinction of being named Billboard's best K-pop album of that year while earning the best marks among Korean releases on year-end lists for Rolling Stone, NME and Hypebeast. Meanwhile, outlets like Consequence of Sound and India Today recognized several songs from RPWP in their year-end lists. Plus, 'Come Back to Me' was also named the best K-pop song released this year by Paste Magazine, all highlighting universal international acclaim. The impact of RM's 2024 releases still resonated in 2025 at the Hanteo Music Awards in mid-February. 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'LOST!' won in both the Best Music Video - International and Best R&B / Soul Video - International categories to give RM something else exciting to look forward to upon his arrival home.

BTS looks to reunite this year as 2 more members finish their military service

time2 hours ago

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BTS' RM and V thank fans as they complete military duties
BTS' RM and V thank fans as they complete military duties

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

BTS' RM and V thank fans as they complete military duties

10 Jun - BTS is slowly shaping up to be whole again, as members RM and V returned to civilian life once more. In the morning of 10 June, the two performers appeared in front of their fans as they ended their duties at their respective bases in Gangwon, and expressed their gratitude for the fans being there despite HYBE not hosting any special ceremony to welcome them back. Admitting that there were difficult times during the service, RM said that he is thankful to the military men who continue to serve the country. He added, "I'm a little worried about the junior soldiers I'm leaving behind, but I hope I get to see them again, all in good health." As for V, the singer said that he can't wait to repay fans for their support. "Thank you so much for waiting for us. And if you wait just a little longer, then we'll show you something so cool," said V. RM and V both enlisted in December 2023, with the former joining the military band while the latter in the military police. The two will be joining the already-discharged Jin and J-Hope, while Jimin and Jungkook will end their service on 11 June. The last to return would be Suga, who will complete his duty on 21 June. (Photo Source: Chosun)

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