J-Hope, of South Korea's BTS, finishes military service (updated)

HYBE

17/10/2024 05:27

(Updates share move, paragraph 6; fan comment, paragraphs 8-9;
background, paragraphs 10-12)
       WONJU, South Korea, Oct 17 (Reuters) - K-pop star
J-Hope, a member of the supergroup BTS, was discharged from
South Korea's military on Thursday after 18 months of duty,
sparking enthusiasm among fans and investors for a potential
reunion of the boy band next year. 
    J-Hope, 30, is the second member of the seven-member group
to wrap up the mandatory national service that has put their
music careers on hold, after oldest member Jin finished his
service in June. 
    Wearing a uniform and a black beret, J-Hope smiled as he
greeted Jin and around 100 cheering fans as well as reporters
upon his release at a military base in Wonju, Gangwon province. 
    "Thanks to the fans, I was able to finish it (the service)
safely, with good health," he told those gathered. 
    "What I've felt for the past a year-and-a-half is that a lot
of soldiers are working hard, dedicating themselves, and doing
so much to protect the country," he added, asking the public for
their interest and love for those serving in the military. 
    Shares in HYBE  352820.KS , the label which houses BTS, rose
7% in early afternoon trade versus a flat wider market  .KS11 . 
    The final four members of the group began their service in
December 2023, with the band expected to reunite in 2025 after
all have completed their military duty. 
    "I'm really hoping to see them (all BTS members) again
together," said Constanza Godoy, 33-year-old Chilean fan who
went to see J-Hope leave the military.  
    "I think that after this short time apart they will be more
close, and they will bring more stories to their songs, to their
lyrics."
    BTS ranks 41th among best-selling artists of all time
according to chartmasters.org on a list headed by The Beatles. 
    Since their debut in 2013, they have sold more than 56
million physical albums and singles, and tallied six No. 1
albums on the Billboard 200, according to chartmasters.org and
Billboard. 
    South Korea requires all able-bodied men between the ages of
18 and 28 to serve between 18 and 21 months in the military or
social service, but it revised the law in 2020 to let globally
recognised K-pop stars delay signing up until age 30.

 (Reporting by Daewoung Kim and Jisoo Kim; Writing by Joyce Lee;
Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
 ((joyce.lee@tr.com;))