K-pop star BTS member Jin to begin military service on December 13

Name: K-pop group BTS to enter South Korea’s mandatory military service, to reunite 'around 2025'
Uploaded: 2022-11-24T05:29:31.000Z
Duration: 1 min 33 s
Description: K-pop group BTS to enter South Korea’s mandatory military service, to reunite 'around 2025'

After years of uncertainty, the group announced in October it would go on mandatory military service, starting with Jin, who turns 30 on December 4

All able-bodied men in South Korea between 18 and 28 must serve in the military for 18 to 21 months

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Jin, a member of South Korean K-pop band BTS will reportedly begin his military service on December 13. Photo: AP/File

Agence France-Presse

Published: 1:29pm, 24 Nov 2022Updated: 1:33pm, 24 Nov 2022

The oldest member of K-pop phenomenon BTS will begin his military service on December 13, becoming the first in the band to enlist, local media reported on Thursday.

Spokespeople for BTS’ agency, HYBE, and the South Korean Ministry of Defence declined to confirm the report.

All able-bodied South Korean men under the age of 30 must perform about two years of military service, mainly because the country remains technically at war with nuclear-armed North Korea.

That means the age cut-off is approaching for 29-year-old Jin, senior member of the hugely popular septet. Jin turns 30 on December 4.

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K-pop group BTS to enter South Korea’s mandatory military service, to reunite 'around 2025'

He will begin his mandatory five-week training at Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi province before being deployed to a “frontline unit”, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing military and industry sources.

The singer had previously hinted on social media he had been assigned to the front line.