BTS, the biggest K-pop act and one of the hottest contemporary music acts in the world, will be on hiatus until 2024 and much of 2025 after it was confirmed on Wednesday that four band members – RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook is about to join the Korean military.
The four follow Jin, who was recruited in December last year, J-Hope (April) and Suga, who have already started their military service.
The news was announced by Big Hit Music via social media. “We would like to inform our fans that RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook have initiated the military recruitment process. The artists are preparing for their military service. We will provide you with further updates in due course. We ask for your continued love and support for RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook until they complete their military service and return safely. Our company will spare no effort to support our artists. Thank you very much.”
All able-bodied men must complete 18 to 21 months of military service. Local media in Korea reported that under a conscription law revised in 2020, the four were allowed to delay their military service until the end of the year, when they turn 30, but have opted to speed up the process and are likely to be called up later this year or in early 2024 The band hopes to reunite in 2025.
Since Jin’s move almost a year ago, the band has already taken a break and the band members have expanded their solo careers. All seven members of the globetrotting band have single-handedly made it onto the Billboard charts.
Nevertheless, the seven-piece band recently extended their contracts with Big Hit Music in anticipation of renewed group activity after the enforced break. “BigHit Music will take into account the military service status of some members and plans to sign with each BTS member one by one,” it said in a statement. “The members currently serving in the military will have completed their military service by the start of the extended exclusive contract period in 2025,” parent company Hybe Corp. said. in September.