J-Hope turns into 2nd BTS member to hitch South Korean military

In December, Jin, 30 and the oldest member of BTS, grew to become the band’s first member to enter the military after revoking his request to delay his conscription.

South Korean TV footage Tuesday afternoon confirmed what they referred to as a black minivan doubtless carrying J-Hope transferring into the boot camp in Wonju, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) east of Seoul. Hybe Corp., the dad or mum firm of BTS’ administration company Massive Hit Music, later confirmed the 29-year-old singer entered the camp.

Dozens of followers confirmed up close to the bottom after arriving through rented buses wrapped with giant images of J-Hope and phrases hoping for his secure service. Authorities mobilized troopers and cops to keep up order, and there have been no quick reviews of safety-related accidents. Massive Hit Music had pleaded with followers, who name themselves the “Military,” to not come to the location because of security causes.

“I like you, Military. I’ll see you once more,” J-Hope, whose actual identify is Jung Ho-seok, mentioned Monday in a message posted on the web fan platform Weverse, with images of himself with a army buzz lower.

5 different youthful BTS members — RM, Suga, Jimin, V and Jungkook — are to hitch the South Korean army one after the other within the coming years. Meaning the world’s largest boy band is anticipated to reconvene as a bunch once more just a few years later.

In South Korea, all able-bodied males are required by regulation to carry out 18-21 months of army service underneath a conscription system meant to discourage aggression from rival North Korea.

The regulation provides particular exemptions to athletes, classical and conventional musicians, and ballet and different dancers if they’ve obtained high prizes in sure competitions and are assessed to have enhanced nationwide status. Okay-pop stars and different entertainers aren’t topic to such privileges.

That has brought about an intense home debate over whether or not it was time to amend the regulation to develop exemptions to entertainers like BTS members. Jin, who turned 30 in December, had confronted an impending conscription as a result of the regulation disallows most South Korean males from additional delaying their companies after they flip 30.

Lawmakers bickered over the problem on the Nationwide Meeting, whereas a sequence of public surveys confirmed sharply break up opinions over potential service exemptions for BTS members. Protection Minister Lee Jong-Sup mentioned on the time that it will be “fascinating” for BTS members to implement their duties to advertise equity within the nation’s army service.

Exemptions or dodging of army duties are a extremely delicate situation in South Korea, as a result of the draft forces younger males to droop their research or skilled careers.

Shaped in 2013, BTS expanded its recognition within the West with its 2020 megahit “Dynamite,” the band’s first all-English track that made BTS the primary Okay-pop act to high Billboard’s Scorching 100.

Hybe Corp. mentioned in October that every member of the band in the interim would give attention to particular person actions scheduled round their army service plans.

Related Press author Kim Tong-hyung contributed to this report.