4 BTS members start process to enlist in the military
Four members of K-pop idol group BTS have started the process for their military service.
“We would like to inform our fans that RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook have initiated the military enlistment process,” agency Big Hit Music announced on Nov. 22.

BTS (Big Hit Music)
BTS members (from left) RM, Jimin, Jungkook and V (Big Hit Music)
BTS members (from left) Jin, J-Hope and Suga are currently fulfilling their military service (Big Hit Music)
It added, “The artists are preparing to fulfill their military service duties. We will inform you of further updates in due course.”
“We ask you for your continued love and support for RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook until they complete their military service and safely return. Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artists,” it said.
RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook are the remaining members of BTS who have not started their military service.
Jin enlisted on Dec. 13, 2022 and will be discharged on June 12, 2024. J-Hope started his service on April 18 this year and will be discharged on Oct. 17, 2024.
Suga enlisted on Sept. 22 this year and will serve for 21 months as a social worker or public duty personnel, an alternative form of military service. He will be discharged on June 21, 2025.
The “military enlistment process” that Big Hit Music stated refers to the cancellation of the BTS members’ privilege under a law that allowed them to postpone his military service until age 30.
They need to cancel the privilege in order to enlist in the military early.
The law took effect on June 23, 2021 and 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 and were recommended by the culture ministry.
The four members need to submit their applications to the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) to cancel the privilege granted to him by law so they could receive a notice about their military enlistment date.
BTS members are aiming to regroup in 2025 after finishing their military service.