K-pop group BTS’ Jin has updated fans about his upcoming military service and it appears that he will be enlisting and be deployed near the border of South and North Korea.
On Nov. 12, a fan on the Weverse app asked Jin, “Oppa, it's your birthday next month, are you excited?”
Jin replied, “No, I'm on the front line.” He is turning 30 on Dec. 4.
As a result, Jin trended on Twitter as fans made speculations about where he will be enlisting and deployed for his military service.
A Korean journalist told Manila Bulletin that Jin’s comment could mean that he will be allocated to the “frontline toward NK .”
A Filipino-Korean in Seoul whose husband was also deployed to the frontline for his military service said it could mean that Jin would be assigned near the border in the northern part of South Korea around the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which divides South and North Korea; Gangwon Province; or Gyeonggi Province.
On Twitter, Jin’s Weverse comment has spread among fans, resulting in the trending of the phrase “take me instead” as they offered to take Jin’s place.
They are worried that Jin would be enlisting in the winter and could face harsh weather conditions including snow.
Last Oct. 17, Big Hit Music, BTS’ agency, announced 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.
Jin released his single album “The Astronaut” on Oct. 28 and performed with Coldplay in Argentina.
After returning to South Korea on Oct. 31, Jin 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.
With the application, Jin could enlist by the end of this year at the earliest, the news report added.
All Korean men are mandated by law to enlist in the military by age 28 but under the new law that took effect in June last year, all members were granted the privilege to delay their military service until they reach the age of 30.
Under the privilege, Jin could postpone his military service until the end of the year.
“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, Yonhap News earlier reported.