BTS' Jin Begins South Korean Military Duty At Boot Camp: 'Time For A Curtain Call'
BTS' Jin Begins South Korean Military Duty At Boot Camp: 'Time For A Curtain Call'
What BTS management says about its recruitment in South Korea
Big Hit Music, BTS' agency, confirmed that the group will fulfill their mandatory military service obligations under South Korean law.
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YEONCHEON, South Korea — Jin, the oldest member of K-pop supergroup BTS, began his mandatory 18 months of mandatory military service at a frontline training camp in South Korea on Tuesday, as fans gathered near the base to celebrate the farewell the star.
Six younger members of BTS are set to join the military one after the other over the next few years, meaning the world's biggest boy band may be on hiatus for a few years. Their registration has sparked fierce debate domestically over whether it's time to overhaul the country's draft system to extend exemptions to prominent artists like BTS, or not grant such benefits at all.
As lawmakers squabbled in parliament and opinion polls showed public opinion was sharply divided over granting exemptions to BTS members, their governing agency said in October that all BTS members would fulfill their mandatory military service duties. Big Hit Music said the company and the BTS members "hope to reunite as a group following their service commitments sometime in 2025."
Jin, who turned 30 earlier this month, entered a training camp in Yeoncheon, a city near the tense border with North Korea, to complete five weeks of basic military training alongside other recruits, the Defense Ministry said. After rifle practice, grenade throwing, and marching practice, he and other recruits were assigned to army units across the country.
Previously: BTS will undergo mandatory military service in South Korea and regroup as a group in 2025
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About 20 to 30 fans, some with photos of Jin, and dozens of reporters gathered near the camp. But Jin didn't join them as the vehicle he was carrying pulled into the field without letting him out.
A few dozen fans may seem like a small number given Jin's immense popularity. However, Jin and his agency had previously asked fans not to visit the site, telling them there would be no special events with the singer to avoid crowd trouble.
Authorities are still deploying 300 police officers, soldiers, rescue workers and others to maintain order and prevent accidents, according to the military. Strict security measures are expected as South Korea continues to be plagued by October's devastating Halloween collapse in Seoul, which killed 158 people.
A few hours before entering the camp, Jin, whose real name is Kim Seok-jin, wrote on the online fan platform Weverse: "Scene call time". On Sunday, he posted a photo of himself with a crew cut and a message that read, "Ha ha ha. It's cuter than I expected."
By law, all able-bodied South Korean men must serve 18 to 21 months under a conscription system designed to deal with threats from North Korea. However, the law provides special exceptions for athletes, classical and traditional musicians, dancers and others when they have won top prizes and increased national standing in certain competitions. K-Pop stars and other artists do not receive such benefits even if they achieve world fame and win major international awards.
"Even when BTS members decide to join the military, there are still regrets," said Jung Duk-hyun, a pop culture commentator. “Those in the field of pop culture experience certain disadvantages and injustices compared to those in the visual arts or athletes. It will likely remain a matter of debate, so I'm wondering if it should be discussed further."
Exclusion or evasion is a particularly sensitive issue in South Korea, where military service forces young men to interrupt their studies or careers. Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and Lee Ki Sik, head of South Korea's enlistment office, previously said it was "desirable" for BTS members to fulfill their military duties to ensure fairness in the country's military service.
Chun In-bum, a retired lieutenant general who heads South Korea's special forces, said the government must strive to abolish all exemptions because the shrinking pool of recruits is a "very serious" problem amid the country's decline in the birth rating. He called the discussion of BTS' conscription "unnecessary" because it wasn't raised by BTS members who showed a willingness to do their duties.
BTS on hiatus: South Korean leader says BTS 'wanted' to perform military duties
Founded in 2013, BTS has many fans around the world who call themselves "Army". The other members are RM, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook, the youngest at 25. The group expanded their popularity in the West with their 2020 megahit "Dynamite," the group's first English-language single from BTS, the first K-pop act to chart on Billboard's Hot 100. The band performed to sold-out arenas around the world. the world and has even been invited to speak at United Nations meetings.
Hybe Corp., Big Hit's parent company, said in October that each group member will initially focus on planned individual activities around their planned military service. In October, Jin released "The Astronaut," a song co-written by Coldplay.
Jung, the commenter, said the sold-out project could give the BTS members some much-needed time to develop after working together as a group for so many years. But Cha Woo-jin, a K-pop commentator, said it's unclear whether BTS will enjoy the same popularity as a group when they reunite after completing their military duties in a few years.
In August, Secretary of Defense Lee said duty BTS members will likely be allowed to continue their education and join other off-duty BTS members on the group's overseas trips.
Cha said that K-pop's global influence will not be affected by the inclusion of BTS members as they appear to represent K-pop but not all K-pop. Chung agreed, saying other K-pop groups like BLACKPINK, Stray Kids, and aespa could still grow.
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