CHUNCHEON, South Korea (AP) — Ok-pop superstars RM and V are the newest members of BTS to be discharged from South Korea’s navy after fulfilling their necessary service.
They every saluted upon their launch Tuesday in Chuncheon Metropolis as about 200 followers, a few of whom traveled from Mexico, Turkey and Brazil, cheered.
Reina Lorena Quintero Sevilla spent almost 18 hours on a aircraft from Mexico Metropolis. “I swear, it didn’t really feel that lengthy as a result of we’re so excited to be right here, to observe the boys get launched, excited to be in South Korea, within the hometowns of our boys, who we love, who we like,” she stated.
RM and V started their service in December 2023, whereas three different BTS members — Jin, J-Hope and Suga — had been already months into their conscription.
Jin, the oldest member of the Ok-pop supergroup, was discharged from the military in June 2024. J-Hope was discharged in October. Jimin and JungKook are scheduled to be discharged Wednesday.
The seventh member, Suga, is fulfilling his responsibility as a social service agent, a substitute for navy service. He’s to be launched later this month.
The seven BTS members plan to reunite as a gaggle someday in 2025.
In South Korea, all able-bodied males aged 18 to twenty-eight are required by legislation to carry out 18-21 months of navy service beneath a conscription system meant to discourage aggression from rival North Korea.
The legislation offers particular exemptions to athletes, classical and conventional musicians, and ballet and different dancers if they’ve obtained prime prizes in sure competitions and are assessed to have enhanced nationwide status. Ok-pop stars and different entertainers aren’t topic to such privileges.
The BTS members had been capable of postpone their service, nonetheless, after the Nationwide Meeting revised the Navy Service Act, permitting Ok-pop stars to delay their enlistment till age 30.
There was heated public debate over whether or not to supply particular exemptions for BTS members, till the group’s administration company introduced in 2022 that every one seven members would fulfill their duties.
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Sherman reported from New York.
