SEOUL – Suga, a member of K-pop juggernaut BTS, started his mandatory alternative service last Friday after he was declared unfit for the regular military draft due to health reasons, said the group’s agency.

Suga has started his alternative service from today, said an official with their agency Hybe.

The rapper will work as a social service agent, reported Yonhap News Agency, saying he had been ruled “unfit for the regular combat duty”.

BTS have become a global cultural phenomenon, selling out stadiums and dominating charts while raking in billions of dollars for South Korea’s economy and building an international legion of fans known as Army.

All able-bodied South Korean men must serve at least 18 months in the military. After a years-long debate on whether BTS deserved an exemption, Jin, 30, the oldest member of the septet, began his service in December 2022. J-Hope, 29, started basic training in April.

People with health issues may be assigned to 21 months of alternative services, which can include working in an office for a municipal government.

The reasons for the decision on Suga, 30, have not been disclosed. However, it is believed to be related to a shoulder surgery he had in 2020, Yonhap said.

Last Friday, Suga told fans: “I have made it this far thanks to you all.”

He wrote on social media: “The time has come to begin my service. I will return after diligently fulfilling my service... Let’s all meet again in 2025.”

‘The king will return’

Fans of Suga, whose real name is Min Yoon-gi, vowed that the alternative service would not be a hindrance to his career.

“Dearest Yoon-gi, stay safe, stay healthy, stay well. We’ll be right here waiting for you. Yoon-gi is worth the wait. The king will return,” one fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Another wrote: “Two years apart is nothing compared with the lifetime we’ll have together.”

Hybe also asked fans not to go to Suga’s new place of duty, which could be anything from a metro station to a municipal office.

“We ask fans to refrain from visiting Suga’s work location during its alternative service period. We ask that you only give a warm send-off and encouragement to Suga from your heart,” it said in a statement.

The spectre of conscription has long hovered over BTS, with many experts pointing to South Korea’s mandatory military service for the septet’s current break. The band had initially cited exhaustion and the pressures of stratospheric success when they announced they would go on “hiatus” in 2022, saying they were taking a break to focus on their solo careers.

Hybe said last week that all seven members of BTS would renew their contracts with the agency.

The company did not disclose details of how long the new contracts were or when they would expire, but the latest announcement indicates that all seven members of the group will likely remain with the label even after they have completed their military service.

Analysts have questioned what the future holds for the group after all seven members complete their military service.

Some male K-pop stars have struggled to resume their careers after military service in a cut-throat industry where artistes are easily replaceable. AFP