A second member of Korea’s BTS – the primary Okay-pop band nominated for a Grammy – has begun the enlistment course of for necessary navy service, a administration official confirmed on Monday, two months after the group’s oldest member started his service.
BTS members mentioned final yr they might be part of the navy beginning with Jin, who turned 30 and enlisted in December after suspending his service so long as permitted.
An official on the band’s administration, BigHit Music, mentioned {that a} second member, the 29-year-old j-hope, whose actual title is Jung Ho-seok, utilized to finish postponement of his personal enlistment.
“We would like to inform our fans that j-hope has initiated the military enlistment process,” the assertion mentioned. “We ask you for your continued love and support for j-hope until he completes his military service and safely returns.”
All able-bodied South Korean males ages 18-28 should serve within the navy for about two years.
A 2019 legislative revision allowed globally acknowledged Okay-pop stars to delay signing till they’re 30. Some lawmakers have pushed to sharply scale back their service alongside the strains of what’s required of Olympic and Asian Game medallists and a few classical musicians, however their efforts made little progress.
South Korea’s protection minister has mentioned BTS members might carry out abroad whereas serving. Many artists have been designated as such “entertainment soldiers”.
In a separate assertion on Monday, BigHit mentioned j-hope would launch a solo single titled “on the street” on Friday, which he wrote as a “gift” for followers to share his emotions towards them.
The seven-member group has pursued solo tasks since asserting a break from group musical actions in June.
Local media have mentioned that one other member, Suga, was judged unfit for lively responsibility and would apply for group service as an alternative. BigHit declined to substantiate the report, citing privateness considerations, however mentioned all members would fulfill their duties.
© Thomson Reuters 2023.