All 7 Members of BTS Complete Military Service, Full-Group Return in Nearly 3 Years Approaching

The 7 members of BTS will finish their military service by the end of this month, paving the way for their full-group return after approximately 3 years. On the 10th, RM and V held their discharge ceremonies at a military base in Chuncheon and greeted fans in their uniform attire. RM is 31 years old and served as a first-class soldier in the military band, while V is 29 years old and served as a sergeant in a special forces unit. Expressing his gratitude, V said, “I’m truly, truly thankful,” and promised, “Please wait a little longer as I’ll return with an absolutely amazing performance.” RM mentioned, “There were many difficult moments when returning to society during my military service,” adding, “Now, as RM, I will return to the stage and make a stunning comeback to society.” Jimin (29) and Jung Kook (27) will also hold their discharge ceremonies on the 11th, with Suga (32) set to finish his service by the end of this month. Following Jin (32) and J-Hope (31) completing their military service last year, all 7 members will now have finished their duties. BTS’s full-group return is expected to generate significant economic impacts on the K-POP market. In 2022, it was estimated that each BTS concert could create an economic impact of up to 1.2 trillion won. With an anticipated world tour attendance of 5 million people, optimistic projections suggest HYBE’s annual operating profit could approach 500 billion won. Lee Jung-hwan, a professor at the College of Economics and Finance at Hanyang University, said, “Given BTS’s massive fandom and the special effect of their reunion, positive outcomes can be expected,” adding that there will be direct and indirect growth effects in industries such as tourism and hospitality. Increased foreign tourist visits and job creation are also anticipated. Even before enlisting, all 7 members had already gained recognition for their musical talent and popularity through solo activities. If they return with more mature messages after completing their service, it is expected to stimulate their fans’ “revenge spending.” Music critic Jung Min-jae expressed optimism, saying, “Group activities focus on bringing together different charms as one team, while solo activities will likely allow them to fully showcase the skills they’ve developed.” Recent hopes for a relaxation of China’s content restrictions are another factor that could maximize BTS’s economic impact. HYBE recently established its local Chinese subsidiary, HYBE CHINA, and it is projected that sales could increase by up to 30% if the Chinese market opens up.