Rest of BTS members enlist in mandatory military service

The remaining members of K-pop’s BTS are gearing up for mandatory military service.

Jimin, Jungkook, RM and V will serve 18 to 21 months in the South Korean military, as is required by law for all able-bodied adult male citizens, before ultimately reuniting to make more hits, NBC News reports.

“I will miss you very much,” V, 27, wrote Tuesday in a letter to the dedicated fan base known as the BTS “ARMY,” utilizing the fan site, Weverse. “Honestly, I regret I will not be able to make happy memories with ARMY for the time being. If it weren’t for that, it’s all fine, but that’s the most difficult. After these long 18 months I will return healthier, so please take care of your health ARMY and find happiness in the day to day. And ‘tada! I’m back’ — I will return.”

In expressing his love for the fans, V also vowed to “make more precious memories when we return.

“Please wait until then! Will be back soon!” said V, who along with RM, 29, enlisted “according to their own procedures,” per BTS’ label.

BigHit Music has noted on Weverse that Jimin, 28, and Jungkook, 26, are set to enlist alongside each other, per NBC.

The label noted in October 2022 that all seven of the superstars would have to serve, despite their celebrity, though a 2020 bill enabled pop stars to defer their military service until age 30. BTS is subsequently set to reunite in 2025.

This week marks a year since Jin, 31, enlisted amid the group’s hiatus, with the Defense Ministry noting his service should end in June.

In April of this year, j-hope, 29, also joined the army. Suga, 30, applied to scrap the postponement of his enlistment in August and formally enlisted the following month.