BTS members RM and V complete mandatory military service as K-pop group nears full reunion

NBC News

19 hours ago

Two members of the K-pop sensation BTS, RM and V, completed their mandatory 18-month military service in South Korea on Tuesday, leaving their base to the roars of fans counting down for the supergroup's reunion.
Standing in their military uniforms outside a base in the northern city of Chuncheon, the duo introduced themselves with their service titles: RM, a private in the military band unit, and V, a sergeant in a special forces unit.
'To all the ARMYs who have waited for us in the military, I want to say I am truly, truly grateful,' V, 29, told reporters and fans, referring to the group's fan club of millions.
'Please wait just a little longer and we will return with a really cool performance,' he said.
RM, 30, referenced his time in the military band unit by playing a saxophone before the crowd.
'We've served the shortest military duty in history, as you know,' he said afterward.
'Still, entering this stage in life at a later age brought many tough moments,' he added.
Two other BTS members, J-Hope, 31, and Jin, 32, finished their military service last year and have been performing solo shows since. With RM and V also having wrapped up, only three BTS members remain in service: Jimin, 29, Suga, 32, and Jung Kook, 27. They are expected to be discharged later this month, according to a spokesperson for the South Korean entertainment group HYBE, which manages BTS.
'I worry a lot about the juniors still serving,' RM said. 'I hope they undergo the remaining training safely and come back to society healthy so we can meet again.'
The boy band went on hiatus in June 2022 before announcing that its members would fulfill their obligation under South Korean law that mandates all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 28 to serve 18 to 21 months in the military.
The oldest member of the group, Jin, enlisted in 2022, followed by J-Hope and Suga. RM, V, Jimin and Jung Kook began their service in December 2023.
South Korea, which remains technically at war with nuclear-armed North Korea, allows only a few exemptions from military service, including for those who enhance the country's prestige such as classical musicians and athletes. The members of BTS were able to postpone their service until age 30 after lawmakers revised the Military Service Act in 2020.
While legislation was introduced at the time BTS members began enlisting that could potentially exempt them, the group said its members would fulfill their military service requirement.
'Now that I'm back, I will do my best as RM of BTS and return to my place in society with style,' RM said.
V, too, promised his return.