Latest news with #64thAnnualGrammyAwards


New York Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
K-pop stars Jimin and Jung Kook of BTS discharged from military service as band's reunion nears
K-pop superstars Jimin and Jung Kook are the latest and final members of BTS to be discharged from South Korea's mandatory military service. The pair wore their military uniforms Wednesday, saluted and addressed fans who had assembled to see the pair after their discharge. Jung Kook thanked the journalists and fans who traveled to see him and Jimin after their discharge and acknowledged how different it was to be back in the spotlight. 'Actually, it's been so long since I've been in front of cameras, and I didn't even put on makeup, so I'm a bit embarrassed,' he said. 'I don't know what to say.' Advertisement 3 K-pop band BTS's members Jungkook and Jimin salute after being discharged from a mandatory military service on June 11, 2025 in Yeoncheon-gun, South Korea. Getty Images They enlisted in December 2023, one day after RM and V did the same. The latter were discharged on Tuesday. They saluted upon their release Tuesday in Chuncheon City as about 200 fans, some of whom traveled from Mexico, Turkey and Brazil, cheered. V thanked fans Tuesday for their patience in waiting for him and RM's return and teased the band's reunion. 'If you can just wait a little bit longer, we will return with a really amazing performance.' Advertisement The seven singers of the popular K-pop band plan to reunite as a group sometime in 2025 after they finish their service. Six of the group's seven members served in the army, while Suga is fulfilling his duty as a social service agent, an alternative form of military service. He will be discharged later this month. Jin, the oldest member of K-pop supergroup BTS, was discharged in June 2024. J-Hope was discharged in October. 3 K-pop band BTS's members RM and V react after being discharged from a mandatory military service on June 10, 2025 in Chuncheon, South Korea. Getty Images Advertisement 3 South Korean boy band BTS arrives for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 3, 2022. AFP via Getty Images In South Korea, all able-bodied men aged 18 to 28 are required by law to perform 18-21 months of military service under a conscription system meant to deter aggression from rival North Korea. The law gives special exemptions to athletes, classical and traditional musicians, and ballet and other dancers if they have obtained top prizes in certain competitions and are assessed to have enhanced national prestige. K-pop stars and other entertainers aren't subject to such privileges. Advertisement However, in 2020, BTS postponed their service until age 30 after South Korea's National Assembly revised its Military Service Act, allowing K-pop stars to delay their enlistment until age 30. There was heated public debate in 2022 over whether to offer special exemptions of mandatory military service for BTS members, until the group's management agency announced in October 2022 that all seven members would fulfill their duties.


The Star
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
K-pop sensation BTS' new single 'On' surpasses 500 million streams on Spotify
South Korean boy band BTS arrives for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. -- PHOTO: AFP SEOUL (Bernama-Yonhap): K-pop sensation BTS' song "ON" has surpassed 500 million streams on the global music platform Spotify, the group's agency BigHit Music said Sunday. According to Yonhap News Agency, the song, released in February 2020, "ON" reached the 500 million mark Friday, becoming the 16th group track by the boy band to achieve the milestone on the platform. "ON," the main track of BTS' fourth studio album, "Map of the Soul: 7," reflects on the group's journey over the seven years since their debut. Meanwhile, BTS members RM, V, Jimin and Jungkook are set to complete their mandatory military service next week, with Big Hit Music asking fans not to visit the discharge sites to ensure safety. According to the agency's notice on Hybe's global fandom platform Weverse on Saturday, RM and V will be discharged on June 10, followed by Jimin and Jungkook on June 11. 'There will be no official event held on the day of their discharge,' Big Hit Music said. 'We are concerned about potential safety hazards caused by overcrowding, as the site is shared with many other soldiers and is a confined space.' The agency emphasised that the safety of both artists and fans is the top priority, and strongly urged fans to refrain from visiting the military sites. Suga, who has been serving as a social service worker, will complete his alternative service on June 21. Jin and J-Hope, the first BTS members to enlist, were discharged in June and October of 2024, respectively. Both members have resumed their solo activities. - Berrnama-Yonhap