After 18 months, Jin, the eldest member of the globally renowned K-pop group BTS, has officially completed his mandatory military service in South Korea.
The 31-year-old singer, who enlisted in December 2022, is the first among the BTS members to fulfill his military duties. Big Hit Music, the agency representing BTS, made an official announcement on Weverse, confirming Jin’s discharge from the military.
“Jin is close to completing his active service in the army and will soon be discharged,” the statement read. The agency also reminded fans that there would be no special events to mark the occasion and urged them not to visit the site to prevent overcrowding issues.
Korean media outlets were present outside the military base, streaming live coverage of the event. Footage from Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) showed Jin embracing his fellow soldiers as he prepared to leave the military site.
Shortly after, Jin was seen walking out of the military base, stopping to salute and pose for the cameras and onlookers. He was greeted with a bouquet of flowers and warmly embraced by his fellow BTS members, who are also currently serving in the military. The group’s leader, RM, set the celebratory mood with a saxophone rendition of BTS’s hit song “Dynamite.”
In October 2022, Jin and his fellow BTS members—RM, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—performed a massive free concert titled “Yet to Come” in Busan, South Korea. The concert supported the city’s bid for the 2030 World Expo and attracted fans from around the world.
Following the concert, Big Hit Music announced that all seven members would proceed with their military service, stating it was “the perfect time” and that the members were honored to serve their country.
Before enlisting, Jin released a solo single titled “The Astronaut.” In a video message to fans at the beginning of the year, he asked them to “wait just a bit more” and promised to “start working hard soon.”
BTS is expected to reunite as a full group in 2025, once all seven members have completed their military service.
Jin, who served as an assistant drill instructor, celebrated the end of his service by reuniting with his bandmates. Wearing his army fatigues and a black beret, he accepted a bouquet of flowers and laughed as RM performed “Dynamite” on the saxophone. “I cried during the ceremony,” Jin said in a Weverse livestream later in the day. “But it was so fun for the last year and six months. It’s such a relief I met so many amazing people.”
Big Hit Music’s statement on Weverse encouraged fans to avoid visiting the military base to prevent overcrowding. Jin’s discharge marks the beginning of a three-year break for BTS, with the group expected to reconvene in June 2025 after the remaining members complete their service.
According to Reuters, Jin planned to celebrate his discharge with an event in Seoul, where he was expected to greet fans and perform a solo show featuring fan song requests. BBC reported that his first public event included a raffle, allowing 1,000 fans to participate in a “hugathon” at the Seoul Sports Complex.
Jin’s completion of his military service is a significant milestone for BTS, as he is the first member to fulfill this duty. The remaining members—J-Hope, V, RM, Jimin, Jungkook, and Suga—are still enlisted and are expected to complete their service by mid-2025. This sets the stage for a highly anticipated reunion of the group.
Under South Korean law, all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 35 are required to serve in the military for 18 to 21 months, depending on the branch of service. Jin’s successful completion of his service is a testament to his dedication and commitment to his country.
As Jin exited the Yeoncheon military base, he was greeted by his fellow BTS members, who hugged him and handed him a bouquet of flowers. RM, who is serving in a military brass band, played “Dynamite” on the saxophone, adding to the celebratory atmosphere. Jin later appeared on a live stream for his fans on Weverse, where he spoke about his experiences and expressed relief at meeting so many amazing people during his service.
Jin’s return from military duty has been met with warm welcomes from his bandmates and fans alike. The anticipation for BTS’s reunion in 2025 continues to build as the remaining members complete their military service.
