K-pop idol group BTS member J-Hope has revealed that he already received the date of his military enlistment.
Last Feb. 26, Big Hit Music, BTS’ agency, announced “that J-Hope has initiated the military enlistment process by applying for the termination of his enlistment postponement. We will inform you of further updates in due course.”
BTS' J-Hope (left) with Jin (Jin's Instagram)
BTS' Jin (right) and J-Hope having a meal before the former's enlistment last December (J-Hope's Instagram)
During a live broadcast on the Weverse app on March 16, J-Hope talked about his military enlistment, a mandatory duty for all Korean men.
"I can't tell you exactly in detail, but the (enlistment) date has already come out. I think it's time to get ready," he said.
He added that when fellow BTS member Jin enlisted in the military last December, he thought about when to cancel his own enlistment postponement.
"Since Jin entered, I thought about when (canceling the postponement of enlistment) should be done, but I decided that it would be right to come back as soon as possible and show a better image," he said.
According to J-Hope, "As soon as the notice (of my enlistment postponement) came out, I got a call from (Jin) saying that he had heard the news. I asked a lot of questions, and my brother advised me what I needed."
"I have prepared a lot of content to soothe your hearts during the military period. There are many things that we recorded in advance. We have prepared a gift, so please look forward to it. The goal is to never grow old. I will keep in good health," he said.
J-Hope’s enlistment postponement refers to a new law promulgated on Dec. 22, 2020 that amended Korea’s Military Service Act, which governs the conscription of Korean men.
The revised law allowed outstanding pop culture artists like BTS to postpone the start of their military service until they reach 30 years old.
All BTS members applied to postpone their military service until age 30. All Korean men are required to enlist by age 28.
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 qualified to postpone their enlistment as they 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.
Jin also canceled his enlistment postponement before he received a date of his military service.
J-Hope needed to cancel first the postponement privilege in order for the Military Manpower Administration (MMA), which supervises the military service, to send him a notice of his enlistment.
He is the second member of BTS to enlist in the military after Jin. BTS members hope that they will reconvene as a whole group in 2025.
J-Hope released the single “on the street” with J. Cole last March 3, which debuted at No. 60 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.