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SEOUL — K-pop singer Jin, the oldest member of South Korean supergroup BTS, began his military service on Tuesday, becoming the first in the band to do so – much to the chagrin of millions of his fans.
Jin, whose real name is Kim Seok-jin, was driven onto military premises without stopping for a farewell “to prevent an accident from happening,” his agency told HYBE. Authorities set up a “Situation Room” to monitor potential security risks posed by the crowds of fans expected to say goodbye to their superstar.
About 270 riot police were on duty, and ambulances were on standby around the Key Recruit Training Center, where Jin enters the boot camp a frontline division in Yeoncheon County on the border with North Korea.
Enter BTS’ Jin: What You Should Know About Compulsory Military Service In South Korea
The recruitment of Korean celebrities often draws fans and journalists who try to catch a glimpse of the stars before they disappear from public view for about two years. Scores of reporters and photographers had been waiting for Jin’s arrival since early Tuesday. However, fans were largely absent after Jin told the “BTS Army” — the official name of the boy band’s million-strong fanbase — not to come.
Instead, the training center was surrounded by colorful banners cheering the K-pop star, including one carried in the sky by giant balloons. “Kim Seok-jin, you were a universe to us,” read one of the banners.
Enrollment day at a training center is usually busy with recruits and their families saying goodbye emotionally. The 30-year-old singer is joining the boot camp with a cohort of about 200 other conscripts, many of whom are younger than him.
All healthy South Korean men between the ages of 18 and 28 are required to serve at least 18 months in the country’s armed forces, but K-pop stars like Jin who are recognized by the government can defer their service until the age of 30.
The K-pop heartthrob previously caused an uproar on social media when he revealed his newly shaved head. The South Korean Army maintains strict grooming standards, including hair length regulations. “It’s cuter than I thought it would be,” he said in a message posted to the Weverse Fan Community on Sunday.
Jin will complete a physically demanding five-week basic training before being assigned to a military unit. Army trainees learn basic skills such as marching, shooting, and throwing a grenade.
The six other BTS members are expected to meet their draft commitments based on individual deadlines. BTS, hailed as the world’s greatest boy band, plans to reconvene as a group in 2025 after they end their service. According to HYBE, they traveled to the border town of Yeoncheon with Jin to bid him farewell in person.
Jin made his solo debut in October with the hit single “The Astronaut,” which has sold more than a million copies.
On May 31, K-pop group BTS met with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during a visit aimed at discussing inclusion and countering anti-Asian hatred. (Video: The Washington Post)