The eldest of the K-pop phenomenon group BTS, Jin, was released this Wednesday, June 12, from his mandatory military service in South Korea and was received by other members of the boy band who hugged him, RM performing one of his hits on the saxophone . to celebrate the event.
Six members of the septet are still serving in the military – an obligation in South Korea, where all able-bodied men are called up for at least 18 months due to tensions with the North – forcing the country’s most popular boy band world to make a decision. pause from 2022.
Jin, 31, the first to enlist, left the Yeoncheon training camp, 40 kilometers north of Seoul. He was greeted by fellow group members J-hope, V, RM who played the chorus of BTS’ hit song on saxophone. Dynamite as well as by Jungkook and Jimin.
Outside the base, fans hung colorful banners that read, “Seok-jin, you have done a good job for the past 548 days. We will support you with our unwavering love,” saying, referring to the star by his full name.
the fans are there
Yeoncheon County put up its own sign that read “BTS Jin, the past year and a half has been a joy for us. Yeoncheon will not forget you!”
Fans had been asked not to attend, and only a few were present early Wednesday outside camp.
“Even though my hands were shaking and my muscles were stiff, I was very happy to see him,” breathes Natose Sunagawa, a 19-year-old fan from Tokyo.
Holding a stuffed animal of Jin, she said she came because she “absolutely wanted to meet him.”
“Since not all the members of BTS have completed their military service, I think Jin will release solo music, I want to buy his solo albums and go to concerts,” adds the young woman, wiping away some tears.
The group’s seven members appeared together in a photo posted on BTS’s official X account on Wednesday, in a room decorated with balloons that read, “Jin is back.”
“I cried when I was discharged” from my military service, Jin said live on Weverse, a social network aimed at K-pop fans, and maintained that he did “well” in the military.
“Huggathon”
HYBE, BTS’s agency, announced Jin’s demobilization on Weverse earlier this week. It arrives just before the 11th anniversary of the boy band’s debut. HYBE’s Seoul office and some local cafes were decked out in purple, BTS’s iconic color, to commemorate the event.
Jin will participate in a “huggathon” – a hug marathon – on Thursday, during which he will hug 1,000 fans drawn in a raffle organized on Weverse. This is his idea, Jin said on the social network. She will then give her first concert in two years.
“It’s important that Jin completed his military service without any problems, because for a male K-pop idol, military service is the biggest obstacle” to his career, said Yoo Sung-man, an analyst at Leading Investment and Securities.
national financial issue
“Jin’s release is a positive sign for entertainment stock prices,” he said. According to him, “K-pop female idols have performed well, but there has been a void for male idols to reach a large audience.”
HYBE’s share price was affected by a conflict with the producer of the girl band phenomenon NewJeans, Min Hee-jin.
“Once Jin resumes his solo activities, it will definitely cause an increase” in the share price, Yoo Sung-man told AFP.
HYBE shares had gained 2% at the start of the day on Wednesday. “BTS accounts for a large portion of HYBE’s profits, so it is very encouraging that the end of BTS members’ military service has begun,” Yoo Sung-man noted.
The next BTS member to complete his military service will be J-hope, who will be discharged in October. The others will complete their service in June 2025.
Source: BFM TV
