Latest news with #MilitaryServiceAct
Arab Times
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
BTS looks to reunite this year as 2 more members finish their military service
CHUNCHEON, South Korea, June 10, (AP): K-pop superstars RM and V are the latest members of BTS to be discharged from South Korea's military after fulfilling their mandatory service. They each saluted upon their release Tuesday in Chuncheon City as about 200 fans, some of whom traveled from Mexico, Turkey, and Brazil, cheered. Reina Lorena Quintero Sevilla spent nearly 18 hours on a plane from Mexico City. "I swear, it didn't feel that long because we're so excited to be here, to watch the boys get released, excited to be in South Korea, in the hometowns of our boys, who we love, who we adore,' she said. RM and V began their service in December 2023, while three other BTS members - Jin, J-Hope, and Suga - were already months into their conscription. Jin, the oldest member of the K-pop supergroup, was discharged from the army in June 2024. J-Hope was discharged in October. Jimin and JungKook are scheduled to be discharged Wednesday. The seventh member, Suga, is fulfilling his duty as a social service agent, an alternative to military service. He is to be released later this month. The seven BTS members plan to reunite as a group sometime in 2025. 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. The BTS members were able to postpone their service, however, after the National Assembly revised the Military Service Act, allowing K-pop stars to delay their enlistment until age 30. There was heated public debate over whether to offer special exemptions for BTS members, until the group's management agency announced in 2022 that all seven members would fulfill their duties.
NBC News
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
BTS members RM and V complete mandatory military service as K-pop group nears full reunion
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.
Yomiuri Shimbun
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
BTS Looks to Reunite This Year as 2 More Members Finish Their Military Service
AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon K-pop band BTS members RM, left, and V salute after being discharged from a mandatory military service in Chuncheon, South Korea, June 10, 2025. CHUNCHEON, South Korea (AP) — K-pop superstars RM and V are the latest members of BTS to be discharged from South Korea's military after fulfilling their mandatory service. They each saluted upon their release Tuesday in Chuncheon City as about 200 fans, some of whom traveled from Mexico, Turkey and Brazil, cheered. Reina Lorena Quintero Sevilla spent nearly 18 hours on a plane from Mexico City. 'I swear, it didn't feel that long because we're so excited to be here, to watch the boys get released, excited to be in South Korea, in the hometowns of our boys, who we love, who we adore,' she said. RM and V began their service in December 2023, while three other BTS members — Jin, J-Hope and Suga — were already months into their conscription. Jin, the oldest member of the K-pop supergroup, was discharged from the army in June 2024. J-Hope was discharged in October. Jimin and JungKook are scheduled to be discharged Wednesday. The seventh member, Suga, is fulfilling his duty as a social service agent, an alternative to military service. He is to be released later this month. The seven BTS members plan to reunite as a group sometime in 2025. 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. The BTS members were able to postpone their service, however, after the National Assembly revised the Military Service Act, allowing K-pop stars to delay their enlistment until age 30. There was heated public debate over whether to offer special exemptions for BTS members, until the group's management agency announced in 2022 that all seven members would fulfill their duties.
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
BTS looks to reunite this year as 2 more members finish their military service
CHUNCHEON, South Korea -- K-pop superstars RM and V are the latest members of BTS to be discharged from South Korea's military after fulfilling their mandatory service. They each saluted upon their release Tuesday in Chuncheon City as about 200 fans, some of whom traveled from Mexico, Turkey and Brazil, cheered. Reina Lorena Quintero Sevilla spent nearly 18 hours on a plane from Mexico City. "I swear, it didn't feel that long because we're so excited to be here, to watch the boys get released, excited to be in South Korea, in the hometowns of our boys, who we love, who we adore,' she said. RM and V began their service in December 2023, while three other BTS members — Jin, J-Hope and Suga — were already months into their conscription. Jin, the oldest member of the K-pop supergroup, was discharged from the army in June 2024. J-Hope was discharged in October. Jimin and JungKook are scheduled to be discharged Wednesday. The seventh member, Suga, is fulfilling his duty as a social service agent, an alternative to military service. He is to be released later this month. The seven BTS members plan to reunite as a group sometime in 2025. 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. The BTS members were able to postpone their service, however, after the National Assembly revised the Military Service Act, allowing K-pop stars to delay their enlistment until age 30. There was heated public debate over whether to offer special exemptions for BTS members, until the group's management agency announced in 2022 that all seven members would fulfill their duties.
Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
BTS' RM and V finally discharged from mandatory military service, receive hero's welcome from fans. See pics
K-pop superstars RM and V are the latest members of BTS to be discharged from South Korea's military after fulfilling their mandatory service. They each saluted upon their release Tuesday in Chuncheon City as about 200 fans, some of whom traveled from Mexico, Turkey and Brazil, cheered. Reina Lorena Quintero Sevilla spent nearly 18 hours on a plane from Mexico City. 'I swear, it didn't feel that long because we're so excited to be here, to watch the boys get released, excited to be in South Korea, in the hometowns of our boys, who we love, who we adore,' she said. Also Read | 'Taehyung was so passionate': Award-winning director recalls how BTS' V got rid of IU's MV scene, cut his hair and enlisted the next day RM and V began their service in December 2023, while three other BTS members — Jin, J-Hope and Suga — were already months into their conscription. Jin, the oldest member of the K-pop supergroup, was discharged from the army in June 2024. J-Hope was discharged in October. Jimin and JungKook are scheduled to be discharged on Wednesday. The seventh member, Suga, is fulfilling his duty as a social service agent, an alternative to military service. He is to be released later this month. The seven BTS members plan to reunite as a group sometime in 2025. 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. [✨] مستنيين اللحظة دي بقالنا كتير 💃@BTS_twt #BTS #RM #V #방탄소년단 — Bangtan Egypt 🇪🇬🇵🇸 (@BTS_EGYPT_ARMY) June 10, 2025 [ تكملة ] كلنا بنرقص يا نامجون مش لوحدك😭@BTS_twt #BTS #RM #V #방탄소년단 — Bangtan Egypt 🇪🇬🇵🇸 (@BTS_EGYPT_ARMY) June 10, 2025 [صور الصحافة] الرقيب #نامجون وهو يعزف على الساكسفون إحتفالًا بتسريحه من الجيش 🤍🫠!. RM IS FINALLY BACK WELCOME BACK RM HOME IS RM#ReturnOfOurJooniverse#SPRING_ALWAYS_WITH_RM — Arab RM (@ArabRM_twt) June 10, 2025 전역한 BTS RM·뷔 '기다려줘서 감사…하루빨리 보답하고파' — 연합뉴스 (@yonhaptweet) June 10, 2025 병장 김남준, 전역 '방탄소년단 알엠(RM)으로 멋지게 뛰어볼 것' #BTS #방탄소년단 #알엠 #RM #전역 #김남준 #전역소감 #iMBC연예 RM은 트럼펫 퍼포먼스를 하며 등장했다. 그는 '드디어 전역했습니다'라며 기뻐했다. 이어 '가장 짧은 군복무를 했고 여건도 좋았다. 많은 분들이 나라를 지켜주고… — iMBC연예 (@imbcenews) June 10, 2025 K-pop stars and other entertainers aren't subject to such privileges. The BTS members were able to postpone their service, however, after the National Assembly revised the Military Service Act, allowing K-pop stars to delay their enlistment until age 30. There was heated public debate over whether to offer special exemptions for BTS members, until the group's management agency announced in 2022 that all seven members would fulfill their duties.
