(Seoul) The eldest child of K-pop phenomenon group BTS, Jin, was released from his mandatory military service in South Korea on Wednesday and greeted by other members of the boy band who hugged him, RM performing one of their hits on the saxophone to celebrate the event.
Six members of the septet are still serving in the military – a requirement in South Korea where all able-bodied men are called up for at least 18 months due to tensions with the North – forcing the world’s most popular boy band to take a break since 2022.
Jin, 31, the first to enlist, came out of Yeoncheon training camp, 25 miles north of Seoul. He was greeted by fellow group members J-hope, V, RM who played the chorus of BTS’ hit “Dynamite” on saxophone as well as Jungkook and Jimin.
Outside the base, fans hung colorful banners that read: “Seok-jin, you have done a good job over the past 548 days. We will support you with our unwavering love,” referring to the star by her full first name.
Yeoncheon County put up its own banner reading “BTS Jin, the past year and a half has been a joy for us. Yeoncheon won’t forget you! “.
Fans were asked not to attend, and there were only a few fans present early Wednesday outside the camp.
“Even though my hands were shaking and my muscles were stiff, I was so happy to see him,” breathes Natose Sunagawa, a 19-year-old admirer from Tokyo.
Holding a stuffed doll of Jin, she said she came because she “absolutely wanted to meet him.”
“Since not all BTS members have finished their military service, I think Jin will release solo music. I want to buy his solo albums and go to concerts,” adds the young woman, wiping away a few tears.
The seven band members appeared together in a photo posted on BTS’ official X account on Wednesday, in a room decorated with balloons reading: “Jin is back.”
“I cried when I was discharged” from my military service, Jin said live on Weverse, a social network aimed at K-pop fans, maintaining that he “did well” in the army.
HYBE, BTS’ agency, announced Jin’s demobilization on Weverse earlier this week.
It comes just before the 11th anniversary of the boy band’s debut. The HYBE office in Seoul as well as some local cafes were adorned with purple, BTS’ iconic color, to mark the event.
Jin will participate in a “huggathon” – a marathon of hugs – on Thursday, during which he will hug 1,000 fans drawn in a raffle organized on Weverse. This is his idea, Jin said on the social network. He will then give his first concert in two years.
“It is important that Jin completed his military service without any problems, because for a male K-pop idol, military service is the biggest pitfall” for his career, said Yoo Sung-man, an analyst at Leading Investment and Securities.
“Jin’s release is a positive sign for the entertainment sector’s stock prices,” he noted.
According to him, “female K-pop idols have performed well, but there has been a void when it comes to male idols reaching a large audience.”
HYBE’s stock price was affected by a conflict with the producer of the girlband phenomenon NewJeans, Min Hee-jin.
“Once Jin resumes solo activities, it will definitely lead to an increase” in the stock price, Yoo told AFP.
HYBE stock was up 2% early Wednesday.
“BTS accounts for a large portion of HYBE’s profits, so it is very encouraging that the end of BTS members’ military service has begun,” Yoo observed.
The next BTS member to complete his military service will be J-hope, who will be discharged in October. The others will complete their service in June 2025.