BTS member J-Hope begins process to join South Korea's military
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
BigHit Music said on Sunday that J-Hope has applied to end postponement of his own enlistment.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
SEOUL – A second member of South Korea’s BTS – the first K-pop band nominated for a Grammy – has begun the enlistment process for his mandatory military service, a management official confirmed on Monday, two months after the group’s oldest member began his service.
BTS members said in 2022 they would join the military, starting with Jin, who turned 30 and enlisted in December
An official at the band’s management, BigHit Music, said on Sunday that a second member, J-Hope, 29, whose real name is Jung Ho-seok, has applied to end postponement of his own enlistment.
The statement said: “We would like to inform our fans that J-Hope has initiated the military enlistment process. We ask you for your continued love and support for J-Hope until he completes his military service and returns safely.”
All able-bodied South Korean men aged 18 to 28 must serve in the military for about two years.
A 2019 legislative revision allowed globally acknowledged K-pop stars to delay signing until they are 30.
Some lawmakers have pushed to sharply reduce their service along the lines of what is required of Olympic and Asian Game medallists and some classical musicians, but their efforts made little progress.
South Korea’s defence minister Lee Jong-sup has said BTS could perform overseas while its members serve. Many artistes have been designated as such “entertainment soldiers”.
In a separate statement on Monday, BigHit said J-Hope would release a solo single titled On The Street on Friday, which he wrote as a “gift” for fans to share his feelings towards them.
The seven-member group has pursued solo projects since announcing a break from group musical activities in June. REUTERS
