The last member of the K-Pop BTS phenomena group to complete their military service, mandatory in South Korea, Suga will officially demobilize on Saturday, marking the highly anticipated return of the entire children’s band.
The Septuor, which debuted in 2013, became the first training of South Korea to dominate US musical classifications and build a world fans community, called “Army.”
But in South Korea, all valid men under 30 are called at least 18 months under the flags due to tensions with the north, an obligation that forced the Band of Children to mark a break in 2022.
Suga, whose real name Min Yoon-GI will officially finish its military service on Saturday at 11:59 pm, according to the Star Group agency in K-Pop, Hybe.
But the rapper and composer, who has carried out an alternative service for health reasons, has completed his mission since Wednesday after having sold his vacation, according to his stamp.
“Above all, I wanted to sincerely thank our fans who waited for me all this time,” he told his fans on the Weverse platform. “I missed you a lot.”
Suga revives civil life a few days after RM, V, Jimin and Jungkook, four other BTS superstars that were released from their military service last week.
Since then, the group leader, RM, has appeared at a modern and contemporary art fair in Switzerland, as Samsung Art TV ambassador. YV was seen in a piano concert in Seoul, along with South Korean director Park Chan-Wook.
“Excellent news”
Suga also spoke in Weverse on Saturday about another episode. In September, he was sentenced to a fine of more than 10,000 euros for conducting an electric scooter in a state of drunkenness.
“I regret the disappointment and concern that I have caused (…) more than anything, knowing that I hurt my fans broke my heart,” he wrote.
Suga’s demobilization opens the way to a return of BTS in the studies and on stage. All training members renewed their contracts with their agency, Hybe, in 2023.
This meeting is an “excellent news” for the K-Pop industry, says Yoo Sung-Man, leading investment analyst and values. In its peak, the group represented 0.2% of South Korea’s GDP.
In addition to music, BTS is known for its support for several progressive causes, whether it is the Black Lives Matter movement against systemic racism towards African Americans or the fight against antia Asian racism in the United States.
The group, which is among the most popular in the world on social networks, even spoke with the United Nations desktop and was received at the White House.
Source: BFM TV
