K-pop megagroup BTS members Jimin and Jungkook were officially discharged from the South Korean military on Wednesday after fulfilling their 18-month mandatory service. During a ceremony, the two artists made an appearance at a public sports facility located near their previous unit in Yeoncheon, approximately 60 km north of Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Jimin (full name Park Ji-min) and Jungkook (full name Jeon Jung-kook) were attired in military uniforms and saluted the hundreds of fans and media representatives who had gathered at the venue. Videos of the two posing for photographers were extensively shared by ARMY, their dedicated fan group, across social media platforms.
As reported by Korean media, representatives from BTS’ agency HYBE presented the duo with bouquets just prior to their address to the audience. “It has been quite a long time since COVID-19 and then the military, so we sincerely thank you for your patience. I believe we can continue to create the vision we have been imagining, and we will prepare to present an even better version of ourselves. It was my first experience in the military, and to be honest, it was not an easy environment. If you happen to see soldiers passing by, I would greatly appreciate it if you could offer them a kind word,” Jimin, aged 29, expressed.Jungkook, the youngest member of the BTS septet, mentioned that it had been some time since he had been in front of the camera. “… I feel a bit shy because I didn’t even apply makeup, so I am unsure of what to say,” he remarked, expressing gratitude to the fellow soldiers who served alongside them. Subsequently, Jimin and Jungkook conducted a live session on Weverse to reconnect with their fans. Jimin and Jungkook enlisted together as active-duty soldiers in December 2023. Their release follows the discharge of RM, the leader of BTS, and V, which occurred on Tuesday. The band, renowned for their hits such as Blood, Sweat & Tears, ON, Fake Love, Butter, IDOL, and Boy With Luv, is anticipated to reunite after Suga’s return, who is set to complete his service on June 21. In South Korea, all able-bodied men aged 18-28 are mandated to serve in the military for approximately two years. All BTS members were permitted to defer the commencement of their military service until they turned 30.
