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BTS are back: The South Korean K-pop superstars have announced a world tour and comeback album. But why were they gone for so long anyway? An overview of members’ military service.
All seven members of BTS have served or completed mandatory military service in South Korea. For male citizens, this is usually between 18 and 21 months, depending on the area of operation and physical suitability. Despite international successes and political debates about possible exemptions, the group unanimously decided to take up the service. There was no complete exemption, only a legally permitted deferral until the age of 30.
Entry into military service marked the beginning of a longer group break from the end of 2022. At the same time, this step was seen in South Korea as a signal of social responsibility and helped to stabilize the band’s public image.
Start and process of military service
As the oldest member, Jin began his regular military service in December 2022 and was discharged in June 2024. He was followed by J-Hope in April 2023, who ended his service in October 2024. Both completed traditional military service and were considered disciplined and dutiful within their units. At least that’s what various media in the country report.
Suga began his service in September 2023 in the social replacement service, which is provided in South Korea under certain medical conditions. Due to a previous shoulder injury, his service period was longer at around 21 months, and he was released in June 2025.
Common entry and special roles
RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook entered almost simultaneously in December 2023. While RM, Jimin and Jungkook do regular military service, V was assigned to a special military police unit. This use attracted increased media attention, but did not have any special status in the legal sense.
The simultaneous call-up of several members was publicly interpreted as a sign of cohesion. In particular, the deliberate avoidance of individual exemptions reinforced this picture. The dismissal of these four members also took place in June 2025.
Impact on career and publicity
Military service led to a break in BTS’s joint activities for several years. At the same time, management used the time for preparatory work: pre-produced content, solo albums and individual projects maintained the group’s presence in the music market.