BTS members Jimin and Jungkook discharged from South Korea military
BTS fans wait for BTS members Jungkook and Jimin who are set to be discharged from South Korea's mandatory military service, in Yeoncheon, South Korea, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
BTS fans wait for BTS members Jungkook and Jimin who are set to be discharged from South Korea's mandatory military service, in Yeoncheon, South Korea, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
BTS fans wait for BTS members Jungkook and Jimin who are set to be discharged from South Korea's mandatory military service, in Yeoncheon, South Korea, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
BTS members Jungkook and Jimin attend an event after being discharged from South Korea's mandatory military service, in Yeoncheon, South Korea, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
BTS members Jungkook and Jimin pose for photographs during an event after being discharged from South Korea's mandatory military service, in Yeoncheon, South Korea, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
YEONCHEON, South Korea - K-pop group BTS' members Jimin and Jungkook were discharged from the South Korean military on Wednesday, the fifth and sixth to complete the country's mandatory service amid expectations of the band's comeback from a hiatus.
The seven-member group put their global music career on hold in 2022 to begin their service starting with Jin in December that year, each serving duties of varying lengths as long as 18 months.
Members RM and V were discharged on Tuesday and the last to wrap up his service will be Suga on June 21.
Fans from around the world have flown to South Korea to welcome the return of the stars this week. REUTERS
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
41 minutes ago
- Straits Times
‘I cry every day': Singer Kit Chan on coping with her mum's death one month on
'I cry every day': Singer Kit Chan on coping with her mum's death one month on SINGAPORE - Home-grown singer-actress Kit Chan is still coping with the loss of her mother, who died in early May. The 52-year-old told Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao in January that her mother suffered from Alzheimer's disease. 'It's been exactly a month since I lost my mum,' Chan wrote in English on social media on June 12. 'I'm grateful for the chance to be in a foreign city, where I can be away from the all-too-familiar, with a book and coffee, watching the world go by, while all those feelings and emotions we know and do not know intermingle within us, and settle like all things do.' Chan shared a photo of the book she is reading, Pinang: No More Than Skins (2014), by Chinese author Cai Chongda. 'Friends ask me how I'm doing. I say I cry every day, but I also laugh every day,' she wrote. 'I think this is a good answer, and a good way to live. It would be how my mum would want me to live, just like she did. Always looking for that bright spot, catching the sparkle in the dull and mundane, and always choosing joy over sorrow.' The star said she will be busy in July and August and is looking forward to it. She will be performing Here We Are, the theme song for the 2025 National Day Parade, with local singer Charlie Lim as well as vocal group The Island Voices. 'Now is a time to be still, and there will be a time to be active,' she added. She said ever since she wrote and recorded the song A Time For Everything, released in 2018, the title has been her mantra. 'It really sums up life for me,' she said. 'It is a privilege to live a full life, and that means accepting and embracing all of it - the joys and sorrows, the gains and losses, the pleasure and the pain, and of course, the processes of living and dying.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Running clubs: Should you join one to improve your mindset and lifestyle?
Some see them as dating opportunities, while for others, it's a chance to learn more about themselves. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. Becoming a runner has always lingered in Natasha's mind, especially now that it's a 'thing' with young people. She sees others joining run clubs and signing up for marathons and triathlons, and even flying overseas to run in events or various locations. In this episode, she invites two runners to help her understand why they do it, and what keeps them coming back for more. Meliani Lee is a budding enthusiast who just decided one day to buy a nice pair of running shoes, while being deskbound in her job as a client lifecycle management specialist. She started long-distance running in 2023, and last year, completed one full marathon and three half-marathons. Arthur Tong is the founder and head coach of Elevate Performance Coaching. As an Ironman-certified coach, his philosophy isn't just about crossing finish lines, as he explains in this episode. (From left) Founder and head coach of Elevate Performance Coaching Arthur Tong, budding running enthusiast Meliani Lee and host Natasha Ann Zachariah discuss the growing appeal of run clubs among young people. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG Highlights (click/tap above): 2:50 Running: Love-hate relationship? Outlet while being tied to a deskbound job 5:22 Advantages of running: Can you start at any age? 6:00 How Arthur's client, a smoker, started running towards a healthy lifestyle in his 60s 6:50: What changed Mel's mindset towards running, being inspired by public habits 7:55 Everyone has their own motivations, even running in costumes; not 'taking yourself too seriously' 9:26 Is running the new 'dating trend'? Importance of community too, to support running newbies 11:20 Dynamics of run clubs 14:19 How do you get better or faster at running in marathons? 16:08 When do you know you are ready? 18:00 What they learn about themselves when it comes to running 19:00 Arthur being involved in marathons too, as a running guide for visually-impaired runners 20:15 Mel on dealing with mental roadblocks 23:07 Helping people discover their own 'whys' in discovering running 24:50 Coping with injuries, planning training with peaks and downtime 27:47 Calling couch potatoes: How to get out of the door and show up? Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (natashaz@ Read Natasha's articles: Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: Filmed by ST Video: Edited by ST Podcast producers: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh and Natasha Liew ST Podcasts' executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: Apple Podcasts: Spotify: YouTube: Feedback to: podcast@ --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: ST Podcasts website: ST Podcasts YouTube: --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: Google Play: Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Business Times
an hour 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