BTS member Jin bids farewell in Buenos Aires ahead of mandatory military service

The K-pop star performed new single 'The Astronaut' with Coldplay in Argentina

Fans of BTS unable to attend the concert gather outside the Monumental Stadium, Buenos Aires, to listen to Jin perform his single 'The Astronaut' with Coldplay. All photos: AFP

Fans outside the stadium for Coldplay's concert in Argentina.

A fan holds up a sign in Korean for BTS member Jin.

BTS fans queue to access to River Plate's Monumental stadium to attend the fourth of 10 concerts from Coldplay in Buenos Aires.

A BTS fans holds an image of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, left, with BTS member Jin.

A fan holds up a sign in Korean for Jin ahead of the Coldplay concert.

A fan has a sign asking Jin to marry her.

Fans in Argentina show their support for BTS.

Fans hold up photos and posters for Jin.

Argentinian fans of Jin pose with a flag made specifically for him.

BTS fans show off their signs ahead of the concert.

BTS fans wear Argentina's football team shirts, with one specifically for Jin.

Thousands of Argentinian BTS fans were moved to tears as they said goodbye to K-pop superstar Jin on Friday. He performed his emotional new single The Astronaut alongside Coldplay as he prepares to take a hiatus to complete mandatory military service.

"We didn't have time to do anything. He arrived, he sang, we cried and we didn't even realise he was leaving," Eliana Suarez, a law student, 25, said at the end of the concert at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.

"It's magic that he comes to Argentina, that he chooses Argentina to sing his single," she said, adding that it was "very emotional".

The singer, 29, performed his song, co-written with singer Chris Martin, on Friday during one of Coldplay's 10 concerts in Buenos Aires, part of their Music of the Spheres tour.

"It was the best thing I've ever seen, the most spectacular, the best show. I grew up with Coldplay ... and now BTS." said Daniela Zuniga, 21, who is a medical student.

The announcement of Jin's participation in Coldplay's concerts in Buenos Aires had triggered a frenzy.

Hundreds of women, often wearing the purple dresses of BTS fans, camped out for days in front of the stadium to get a seat.

"A lot of people were left without tickets, there are a lot of resales and a lot of scams. They took advantage of the desperation," Noelia Zarate, 23, who makes T-shirts embroidered with K-pop designs, said.

With the 600,000-capacity stadium full, a few hundred fans who could not get tickets watched the concert from outside.

On Twitter, the hashtags #TheAstronaut and #ThanksArgentina, the phrase with which Jin bid farewell to the audience, were the two main trends on Friday.

A fortnight ago, the agency representing BTS said the band's seven members would enlist in the military, putting an end to a debate about whether they should be exempt from the mandatory service requirement of about two years.

Jin, the eldest of the septet, said he would sign up in December.

The group, credited with generating billions for the South Korean economy, have said they hope to reconvene by 2025.

Scroll through the gallery below to see BTS through the years.

BTS through the years: the K-pop band at the Korean Culture Convention (K-Con), held at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on August 10, 2014. AFP

Members of BTS arrive on the red carpet for K-Con 2014. AFP

BTS on the red carpet for the Asia Artist Awards in Seoul on November 16, 2016. AFP

Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and JungKook of BTS at Music Choice in New York City on March 22, 2017. Getty

BTS perform Fake Love at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 20, 2018. AP

BTS accept the Top Social Artist award at the Billboard Music Awards on May 20, 2018. Reuters

BTS attend the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2018. AP

BTS perform during a Korean cultural event in Paris as part of the South Korean president's official visit to France on October 14, 2018. AFP

BTS on the red carpet at the Mnet Asian Music Awards in Hong Kong on December 14, 2018. AP

BTS at the Seoul Music Awards on January 15, 2019. Getty

BTS present the award for Best R&B Album during the 61st Grammy Awards on February 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. AFP

BTS perform on Saturday Night Live on April 11, 2019. Getty

BTS before rehearsals for KBS 2TV's Music Bank in Yeouido, Seoul, on April 19, 2019. Getty

BTS perform at concert to promote 18th Fina World Championships at a stadium in Gwangju, South Korea on April 28, 2019. EPA

BTS and Halsey performing Boy With Luv at the Billboard Music Awards on May 1, 2019. Reuters

BTS attend Youth Day at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul on September 19, 2020. Reuters

BTS present a purple gift box to President Moon Jae-in during the inaugural Youth Day event in Seoul on September 19, 2020. EPA

BTS on the red carpet during the annual Mama Awards at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya, Japan, on December 4, 2019. Reuters

BTS at the 34st annual Golden Disk Awards ceremony in Seoul on January 4, 2020. EPA

BTS arrive at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on January 26, 2020. AP

BTS visit the Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on February 21, 2020. AFP

BTS give an address as part of the YouTube Originals Dear Class of 2020 speeches. YouTube Originals

BTS performing as part of the YouTube Originals Dear Class of 2020 speeches. YouTube Originals

BTS perform 'Dynamite' during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2020. Reuters

BTS accept the award for Best Pop Video for 'On' during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2020. AP

BTS arrives to security check-in at the United Nations headquarters during the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 20, 2021. AFP

V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS arrive at the 2021 American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California on November 21, 2021. Reuters

BTS accepts the award for artist of the year at the American Music Awards in 2021 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. AP

Jin, Suga, V, Jungkook, RM, Jimin, and J-Hope of BTS hold their award for the Favourite Pop Song, Favourite Duo or Group and Artist of the Year awards during the 2021 American Music Awards. Reuters

BTS pose on red carpet of iHeartRadio Jingle Ball concert in California on December 3, 2021. Reuters

BTS perform at Jamsil Olympic Park in southern Seoul, South Korea on March 10, 2022. EPA

BTS pose on red carpet of 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 3, 2022. Reuters

BTS perform Butter during 64th Annual Grammy Awards show in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 3, 2022. Reuters

BTS Permission to Dance concert in Las Vegas on April 10, 2022. Photo: Big Hit Music

Members of BTS join Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, centre, during a news conference at the White House in Washington DC on May 31, 2022. Photo: Oliver Contreras / Sipa / Bloomberg