BTS’s agency, BIGHIT Music, announced that all seven members are serving in the armed forces and that the group would resume their operations in 2025 once everyone has finished their terms. Jin will be the first person to join the military. Accordingly, the participants will enlist in the sequence of their individual missions. Before performing “The Astronaut” with Coldplay for the first time during the latter’s concert, Jin joined in during a live session on the platform Weverse from Argentina.
According to media outlet Soompi’s translation of the singer-Korean songwriter’s statement, “I originally planned to enlist in June (2022), but I delayed it until our October performance [in Busan] out of respect for the fans. I postponed making my [enlistment] announcement because I didn’t want to perform while crying. Two days after the concert for the World Expo 2030 in Busan, there was an announcement about military conscription. Before enlisting in the military in 2020, Jin stated that their album “BE” would have been their final one. However, because the song “Dynamite” became more popular than they had anticipated, BTS felt it would be best to release the songs “Butter” and “Permission to Dance.” He stated, “I honestly think it was right that I didn’t leave during that period as the two songs fared well.”
They intended to do a concert for the fans, but they had Grammy Awards commitments in 2021. I don’t enjoy the cold, so I received the go-ahead from the agency to go [enlist] in the summer between May and June, he added. We made a video in June about stopping group [promotions] and concentrating on solo [activities]. We were implying to one another that we were enlisting. Jin planned to enlist, though, in the spring or summer, but the Busan concert wasn’t until October 2022, so he had to wait even longer.
All Korean men who are physically capable are required by law to enlist in the military. However, on the advice of the minister of culture, elite sportsmen and classical musicians can finish their terms of service and continue to practice their professions. For 34 months, they are referred to as alternate services. Earlier in 2021, three MPs introduced measures that would have expanded the scope of those exemptions to include other types of artists. It should be noted that the “BTS military service amendment” law, which permits artists who receive the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism’s recommendation to postpone their required service until they turn 30 years old by international reckoning, was passed in consideration of its obvious implications for the group.
Jin spoke on how unfair it was to criticize BTS for delaying enrollment, saying, “We just didn’t want a crying [Busan] performance, but we received so much hate as people here and there said ‘it’s true they aren’t going or ‘they have to go.'” Even though it’s unfortunate, it’s a relief for the audience that a tear-filled event was spared. I received some criticism, but I’m content. On October 17, 2022, the formal announcement was made available. The members of BTS are honored to serve after the incredible concert to support Busan’s candidacy for the World Expo 2030 and as each person starts their own separate projects.”
