BTS pop star J-Hope will begin mandatory military service in South Korea on Tuesday, local media reported, becoming the second member of the K-pop boy band to join the military.
The first South Korean group to top the US and UK charts, multiple Grammy nominees, and a global community of fans called ARMY, BTS has generated billions of dollars in revenue since their debut in 2013.
But in South Korea, all able-bodied men must serve at least 18 months in the military, and after a years-long debate over whether BTS deserved an exemption, Jin, the eldest of the group, was the first to apply in December. .
“We Will Miss You So Much”
J-Hope, whose full name is Jung Hoseok, will begin his five-week basic training on Tuesday at an army training camp in the northeastern province of Gangwon, the Yonhap News Agency reported.
The 29-year-old “idol” posted photos of himself on Weverse, the fan community platform created by BTS’s label Hybe, with his new regulation haircut on Monday.
“I love you ARMYs. I’m leaving and I’ll be back healthy (from the army),” he said.
The post generated thousands of comments from fans, many of whom expressed sadness over the band’s temporary separation.
“Take care and stay healthy. ARMY will do everything they can to stay positive by spreading the word and supporting the things you love and enjoy! Say hi to Jin for us please? We will miss you so much,” says one of them. Another praises her “sense of duty in service” to his country.
“D-1”
Jin, who is currently serving in the military, commented “D-1” (J-1 in French) with a heart under one of J-Hope’s Weverse posts on Monday, meaning he was only one day away from his enlistment.
Hybe had confirmed on April 1 that J-Hope would begin his military service, without elaborating “to avoid issues related to crowd movements.”
“The entrance ceremony is a time reserved for military personnel and their families. (…) Fans are advised not to attend the site,” the label read.
“A new experience”
During a live broadcast on Friday, J-Hope shared his excitement about joining the military with his fans.
“It will be a new experience, I will learn to integrate into a new society and that excites me,” he said.
“In the meantime, I hope to live every day as normal, it will be different from my usual way of life. It could allow me to be healthier,” he added.
The group invoked the exhaustion and pressure caused by their stratospheric success by announcing a hiatus in 2022, explaining that each of the members would be taking a break to focus on their solo careers.
Difficult recovery?
Analysts question the future of the group once all seven members complete their military service.
Some male K-pop stars have struggled to resume their careers after serving in the military, in an industry where artists are easily replaced.
“During this absence, (BTS) may lose public interest and the decline in popularity will hurt their business,” Lee Taek-gwang, a communications professor at Kyung Hee University, told AFP.
According to him, “it’s not just a problem for BTS, but also for almost all boy bands and male celebrities” in South Korea.
Source: BFM TV
