BTS Returns from Military Service with Enhanced Strength; Jimin Writes Billboard Comeback Legend with Solo Track “Who”

BTS has returned following the completion of their military service. The group’s members, now free from their mandatory service, have captured fans’ attention with visibly stronger physiques achieved through rigorous training. After Jin enlisted in December 2022, J-Hope joined shortly after, with the remaining members all enlisting by the end of 2023. As members were discharged one by one, sometimes in pairs, fan expectations for a reunion continued to rise, and those hopes became reality on July 1, 2025. During a Weverse livestream, BTS announced the release of their first full-length album in spring 2026. Last September, the group’s trainer Ma Sun Ho released a YouTube blog documenting workouts in Los Angeles. In the videos, BTS members focused intently on performing dumbbell hammer curls and machine exercises, while also engaging in slight playful competition. The members are following a train to failure training method, where they train until muscle fatigue sets in rather than reaching a predetermined number of repetitions—a technique designed to maximize muscle growth. Kirk Myers, founder of Dogpound and a renowned celebrity trainer, highly praised BTS’s training approach. He explained, “What they do well is that their movements are slow and controlled. This is a very effective training method and highly efficient for muscle growth.” Myers added, “It’s great that they exercise together as a group. It adds responsibility and fun. From watching these videos, it seems like they’re really enjoying themselves.”

Meanwhile, BTS’s Jimin is proving his strength as a solo artist. His solo track “Who” continues to create a comeback miracle on the U.S. Billboard charts. It rose 13 places on both the Global 200 and Global (Excluding U.S.) charts compared to the previous week, reaching positions 109 and 77 respectively. Released on July 19, 2023, “Who” has maintained long-term popularity for over 14 months. It is now listed on both charts for 61 consecutive weeks, tying the record for the longest charting period set by Jimin’s first album’s Title Track “Like Crazy.” Notably, both “Who” and “Like Crazy” were achieved solely through Jimin’s solo efforts without any collaborations, which is considered an exceptional achievement for a K-pop solo artist. Jimin’s second album, “MUSE,” was the first and only K-pop solo album to claim 8 number one spots on Billboard’s World Albums chart. It reached position 8 this week, bringing its consecutive charting weeks to 61 and bringing it one step closer to the 63-week record held by his first album’s Title Track “Like Crazy.” Jimin’s global popularity is evident not only in the United States but also in the Japanese market. On September 24, “Who” re-entered Billboard’s Japan Hot 100 chart at position 81, achieving a total of 38 weeks on the chart. This makes it the first and only K-pop solo song to stay on that chart for 38 weeks, following BoA’s “Merry Chri.” It also appeared on the Japan Streaming Songs chart at position 74, marking 55 weeks on the chart in total—further proving the strength of Jimin’s loyal fanbase and his musical impact.

On another front, BTS’s Jin has attracted attention due to “IGIN,” a distilled liquor he launched in December 2024 through “Jini’s Lamp,” an agricultural company he founded alongside famous chef Baek Jong-won. However, he has recently been reported to authorities for alleged violations of product labeling laws, sparking renewed discussions about K-pop stars entering the liquor industry.