All 7 Members of BTS Have Completed Military Service; Full-Group Return Expected to Transform K-Pop Landscape

All members of BTS have finished their military service. Rapper SUGA completed his social service duty on the 21st, marking the end of obligations for all seven members. SUGA opted for social service instead of military service due to an shoulder injury, while RM, V, Jimin, Jung Kook, Jin, and j-hope enlisted in the army. To minimize downtime, BTS spread their enlistment dates over a relatively short period. After lead member Jin enlisted first in December 2022, each member joined sequentially with a few-month interval, allowing them to return as a full group after just over two years. Earlier this month, RM, V, Jimin, and Jung Kook were discharged from the military, followed by Jin in June 2024 and j-hope in October. Fans are extremely eager for BTS’s return. At the “BTS Festival 2025” held in Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, on the 13th, fans from around the world gathered. Stephanie from Brazil said through tears, “BTS was the gateway that introduced me to Korean culture,” while Buyo Matiwane from South Africa recounted, “I couldn’t stop crying when ‘Mikrokosmos’ appeared.” Para Ala from the Netherlands added, “Just breathing the same air, drinking the same water, and eating the same food gave me the feeling of being with BTS.” The festival is an annual event celebrating BTS’s debut date, and this year featured various programs centered around their songs, photos, and messages. At the venue, there was a “Voice Zone” where fans could listen to recordings left by the members, as well as a “Mikrokosmos” lighting show held at noon every day. BTS’s completion of military service has received positive feedback in South Korea. Lee Kyu-tak, a professor specializing in cultural studies at Korea George Mason University, stated, “Failing to serve in the military could lead to negative perceptions in Korean society, which can be fatal for idols whose image is crucial. Completing military service properly is significant for maintaining trust with fans.” Music critic Kim Young-dae explained, “If they had received special military exemptions, it might have created the impression of relying on the state. Instead, finishing their duties cleanly allows them to shed unnecessary burdens and pursue activities freely.” BTS debuted in June 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment (now HYBE) and achieved historic success as the first Korean boy group when “DNA” entered the Billboard Hot 100 in 2017. In 2020, they became the first K-Pop group to top the Billboard Hot 100 with their English single “Dynamite.” The group has numerous platinum-certified songs such as “Mic Drop,” “Map of the Soul: 7,” “Love Yourself: Answer,” “Idol,” “Be,” and “Butter,” and has also collaborated internationally with artists like Coldplay on “My Universe.” A music critic noted, “Although concerns have recently arisen about the lack of a core leadership structure, BTS’s return could change the momentum of K-Pop.” As of now, HYBE has not officially announced plans for the full-group’s activities, but fans expect a comeback in March next year.