K-pop star J-Hope, a member of the famous boy band BTS, has officially finished his mandatory military service after 18 months. His discharge on Thursday, October 17, 2024, has excited fans and raised hopes for a possible BTS reunion in 2025.
At 30 years old, J-Hope is the second member of BTS to complete his military duty. The oldest member, Jin, finished his service in June of this year.
In South Korea, all able-bodied men aged 18 to 28 must serve in the military for 18 to 21 months, but a law passed in 2020 allowed global K-pop stars to postpone their service until the age of 30.
Wearing his military uniform and a black beret, J-Hope was greeted by Jin, around 100 enthusiastic fans, and reporters at a military base in Wonju, located in Gangwon province, which he applauded them for.
“Thanks to the fans, I was able to finish my service safely and in good health,” J-Hope said to the crowd.
He expressed gratitude for the experience and encouraged people to support those serving in the military.
“What I’ve felt over the past year and a half is that a lot of soldiers are working hard, dedicating themselves, and doing so much to protect the country,” J-Hope said.
The final four members of BTS began their military service in December 2023. Once all members have finished in 2025, the band is expected to reunite.
A 33-year-old Constanza Godoy, a fan from Chile who came to celebrate J-Hope’s release, expressed his anticipation for the BTS’ reunion.
“I’m really hoping to see them all together again. I think that after this short time apart, they will be closer and bring new stories to their songs and lyrics,” Godoy said.
BTS is one of the best-selling music groups in history, ranking 41st according to chartmasters.org. Since their debut in 2013, they have sold over 56 million albums and have six No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 chart.
Like many other young Korean celebrities, BTS members must complete their mandatory military service. Notably, Son Heung-min, the star forward for Tottenham Hotspur, finished his military service in 2020 and received the ‘Pilsung’ award for being among the best performers, showcasing his excellent skills.
