JIN OF BTS COMPLETES MANDATORY MILITARY SERVICE, BECOMES FIRST MEMBER DISCHARGED
Jin, the oldest member of K-pop phenomenon BTS, was discharged from South Korea's army after 18 months of duty, becoming the first member of the group to wrap up mandatory national service that put their music careers on hold. The singer, born Kim Seok-jin, completed his service on June 12, 2024, at a military base in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province.
deccanherald
Wearing his army uniform and a black beret, Jin appeared emotional as he hugged his colleagues at the base, according to television footage of the event. He was seen leaving after being discharged, and livestreams of the moment drew hundreds of thousands of viewers online.
deccanherald
CNN
Jin became the first member of BTS to enter the military, beginning his service in December 2022. Following his discharge, he was greeted by fellow members J-Hope, Jimin, V, Jung Kook and RM, with RM playing the saxophone to mark the occasion. Jin later celebrated his discharge with an event in Seoul, where he greeted fans and staged a performance at the Jamsil Sports Complex, an event organized by the group's label Hybe for 1,000 selected fans.
BTS' Military Service Explained: All About the Singers' Enlistments +2
After being discharged, Jin returned to work, filming the online series "Run Jin," and went on to record and release two EPs, "Happy" and "Echo."
TODAY.com
Jin's discharge marked the beginning of a staggered homecoming for the group. The final four members — RM, V, Jimin and Jung Kook — began their service in December 2023, with the full band expected to reunite once all members completed their duty. RM and V were subsequently discharged on June 10, 2025, with Jimin and Jungkook following a day later, while Suga — who served as a social service agent rather than in the army — completed his alternative duty on June 21, 2025, completing the reunion of all seven members.
CNN
Korea.net
South Korea requires all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 28 to serve between 18 to 21 months in the military or social service, though the law was revised in 2020 to allow globally recognized K-pop stars to delay enlistment until age 30.