BTS’ Members to Serve in the South Korean Military and Reunite as a Group Around 2025

K-pop stars BTS will be enlisting in the military, as all able-bodied South Korean men are required to do, and will be taking a hiatus as a group until around 2025 as members serve at different times while also pursuing solo projects.

The septet’s entertainment company Big Hit Music announced the news today after many wondered whether Jin, Jimin, J-Hope, RM, Jungkook, Suga, and V would receive a military service exemption given BTS’ global fame.

Already, the boys have been able to delay their service until age 30 under the “BTS law,” passed in December 2020 by the Korean National Assembly, which allows K-pop performers to postpone service until that age with a recommendation from the culture minister, Billboard reports. Traditionally, they would have needed to enlist by age 28. Service is 18 months minimum but varies depending on the individual.

Oldest member Jin will be the first to enlist this October after he finishes promotion for his solo project. He is turning 30 on December 4.

The company released a statement emphasizing the fact that BTS intends to come back together as a group post-military service. Big Hit said:

BIGHIT Music is proud to announce today that the members of BTS are currently moving forward with plans to fulfill their military service. After the phenomenal concert to support Busan’s bid for the World Expo 2030, and as each individual embarks on solo endeavors, it’s the perfect time and the members of BTS are honored to serve.

Since the creation of BTS over 10 years ago, the band has risen to international success, broken records, and catapulted K-Pop into the global stratosphere. BIGHIT MUSIC has focused to the milestone moment when it would be possible to respect the needs of the country and for these healthy young men to serve with their countrymen, and that’s now. Group member Jin will initiate the process as soon as his schedule for his solo release is concluded at the end of October. He will then follow the enlistment procedure of the Korean government. Other members of the group plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans. Both the company and the members of BTS are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment.

With the release of their first anthology album earlier this year, it opened the path to allow the members to take some time to explore individual projects. As part of the HYBE family, we support and encourage our artists and are beyond proud that they will each now have time to explore their unique interests and do their duty by being of service to the country they call home.

“Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)” is more than a track from their latest album, it is a promise, there’s much more yet to come in the years ahead from BTS.