K-pop group BTS’ Jin has started the process for his military service, a mandatory duty for all Korean men.
Jin has submitted his application to the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) to cancel the privilege granted to him by law to postpone his military service until the age 30, Yonhap News reported on Nov. 4.
With the application, Jin could enlist by the end of this year at the earliest, the news report added.
Jin is turning 30 on Dec. 4. Under the privilege, he can postpone his military service until the end of the year.
Jin returned to South Korea on Oct. 31 after performing his new single “The Astronaut” at Coldplay’s concert in Argentina on Oct. 28.
“Jin will apply (for the cancellation of military service postponement) as soon as he comes back from Argentina and will organize things including his activities,” an industry official told Korean media on Oct. 28.
Jin needs to cancel the postponement of his military service before the MMA can send him the notice of his enlistment, which would take about two to three months, Yonhap News earlier reported.
Big Hit Music, BTS’ agency, announced last Oct. 17 that all members of BTS will be enlisting in the military with Jin, the oldest member, going first.
“Group member Jin will initiate the process as soon as his schedule for his solo release is concluded at the end of October. He will then follow the enlistment procedure of the Korean government,” it said.
It added, “Other members of the group plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans. Both the company and the members of BTS are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment.”
Last year, all seven members of BTS applied last year to postpone their military service until age 30.
Their basis was a new law revising Korea’s Military Service Act promulgated on Dec. 22, 2020, which allows outstanding pop culture artists like BTS to postpone the start of their military service until they reach 30 years old.
Article 60, or the Postponement of Draft Physical Examination and Enlistment in Military, etc., of the Military Service Act states that “the director of a regional military manpower office may postpone the conscription or call-up of a person who has undergone a draft physical examination or a follow-up draft physical examination, who falls under any of paragraph (1) 1 through 3 or falls under any of the following: A student who attends a high school or higher; A person who is taking a prescribed course at a training institute; An outstanding person to enhance the national prestige in the fields of sports and public culture and arts.”
The law took effect on June 23, 2021, or six months after it was promulgated. The law specifies that artists who are qualified for the privilege are those who are recipients of cultural medals and recommended by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST).
BTS members were bestowed the Hwagwan (Flower Crown) Order of Cultural Merit in October 2018 for their contribution to spreading Hallyu, or Korean Wave, around the world.
They applied for the postponement of their military service last year and were recommended by the culture ministry.