Jin, oldest member of K-pop's BTS, finishes army service in South Korea (updated)

HYBE

12/06/2024 04:56

(Adds Jin's quotes from livestream, share moves in paragraphs
3-5)
    By Hyunsu Yim
       SEOUL, June 12 (Reuters) - Jin, the oldest member of
K-pop phenomenon BTS, was discharged from South Korea's army on
Wednesday after 18 months of duty, the first member of the group
to wrap up the mandatory national service that put their music
careers on hold.
    Jin, 31, wearing uniform and a black beret, appeared
emotional as he hugged his colleagues at a military base in
Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi province, television footage showed.
    "I cried during the ceremony," Jin said later during a
livestream which racked up over 3 million views on the Weverse
fandom platform.
    "But it was so fun for the last year and six months. It's
such a relief I met so many amazing people," he added, sending
regards to his colleagues at the military base.
    Shares of HYBE  352820.KS , the label which houses BTS,
jumped 1.01% in early trade while the benchmark KOSPI index rose
0.35%.
    South Korean media reported several other members of the
septet who are currently serving in the military applied for
leave to celebrate the occasion.
    Among them was rapper RM, who greeted Jin with a saxophone
to play the group's hit single "Dynamite". 
    Jin became the first member of the group to enlist in the
military in December 2022. The final four members of the group
began their service in December 2023, with the band expected to
reunite in 2025 after they all complete their duty.
    Jin plans to celebrate his discharge with an event in Seoul
on Thursday where he will greet fans and stage a performance.
    The group debuted on June 13, 2013, and has since become the
face of K-pop, one of South Korea's largest cultural exports.
    South Korea requires all able-bodied men between the ages of
18 and 28 to serve between 18 to 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 Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Josh Smith and Jamie Freed
and Miral Fahmy)
 ((Hyunsu.Yim@thomsonreuters.com;))