In a heartwarming reunion, BTS members gathered to welcome their bandmate Jin, who was discharged from his mandatory military service in South Korea. The emotional moment saw RM playing the trumpet while J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook lined up to embrace Jin, marking the end of his 548-day service.
Jin, the oldest member of the globally renowned K-pop group, emerged from the gates of his army base in Yeoncheon county, where he was greeted by his fellow bandmates. The group, who have been on a hiatus since 2022 due to their military obligations, celebrated Jin’s return with a giant bouquet of flowers and heartfelt hugs. RM added a special touch by playing the saxophone, performing the hook of their hit song “Dynamite.”
Fans had decorated the area outside the base with colorful banners and balloons, expressing their unwavering support for Jin. One banner read, “Seok-jin, you did so well for the last 548 days. We’ll stand by you with our unwavering love,” while a giant balloon proclaimed, “Worldwide handsome Seok-jin! Congratulations on your discharge.”
Despite requests for fans not to gather, a few dedicated admirers showed up to witness the momentous occasion. Natose Sunagawa, a 19-year-old fan from Tokyo, expressed her joy at seeing Jin, despite her hands shaking and muscles stiffening from excitement. Holding a plush doll of Jin and a keyring with his face, she shared her hopes for Jin’s solo projects and future concerts.
BTS’s official account on X shared a picture of the entire group celebrating Jin’s discharge with a cake. In a livestream on Weverse, Jin humorously commented on his appearance, saying, “I’m normally more handsome than this, but I cried when I was discharged. My eyes are puffy. I usually have confidence in my face, but I’m less confident today.”
Jin proudly displayed his certificates and commendations, mentioning that he “did well” during his service and cried twice out of happiness to be home. His discharge comes just ahead of the 11th anniversary of BTS’s debut, with their agency HYBE’s office in Seoul and some local cafes adorned in purple decorations to celebrate the milestone.
Jin will participate in a “huggathon” on Thursday, where he will hug 1,000 fans who won a raffle held on Weverse. This event marks his first performance in two years. Jin revealed that the “huggathon” was his idea, initially wanting to hug 3,000 fans but agreeing to a smaller number due to safety concerns raised by HYBE.
Yoo Sung-man, an analyst at Leading Investment and Securities, highlighted the significance of Jin completing his military service without any issues, noting that military service is a major concern for K-pop male idols. He added that Jin’s discharge is a positive sign for entertainment stock prices, with HYBE’s share price rising by two percent in early trading Wednesday.
The next BTS member to complete his military service will be J-Hope, who is set to be discharged in October. The rest of the band is expected to finish their service by June 2025, marking a highly anticipated return for the world’s most popular boy band.
