BTS member Jin says he is “having fun” doing his military service.
The 30-year-old pop star shared photos of himself in uniform on Weverse and urged his fans to “always be happy and stay well.”
Jin recently completed five weeks of basic training at a boot camp in Yeon-cheon, where he will stay on as an assistant instructor.
South Korea’s conscription law requires most males to register to start 18 months of military service by the time they are 28. A 2021 amendment allowed pop stars who have received government medals to apply for deferment of their military service until they are 30. (BTS received the Order of Cultural Merit by president Moon Jae-In in 2018.)
Jin is the first BTS member to begin his military service. Suga, the next oldest, turns 30 in March.
Last October, BTS management said the “other members of the group plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans.” Big Hit Music said it “and the members of BTS are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment.”
A spokesperson for the South Korean defence ministry previously said BTS members will be allowed to participate in “national” events while doing military service.
BTS announced last June they were taking a break but insisted they were not breaking up. “We’re each going to take some time to have fun and experience lots of things,” said Jungkook. “We promise we will return someday.”