BTS star Jin starts his mandatory South Korean military duty on Tuesday, becoming the group's first member to enlist since a hiatus announcement this year left fans heartbroken over the K-pop band's uncertain future.
The septet are widely considered the country's biggest cultural phenomenon — selling out stadiums around the world and dominating the charts while raking in billions and building a global legion of fans known as their Army.
But all able-bodied men in South Korea must serve at least 18 months in the military, and while there was a years-long debate about whether BTS deserved an exemption, it was confirmed in October that all members will need to enlist.
Jin — whose full name is Kim Seok-jin — will begin his five weeks of training on Tuesday, the military said.
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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
Yonhap news agency reported the star is expected to be deployed to a "frontline" unit near the border with North Korea, with whom South Korea remains technically at war.
"We ask you to keep your heart-warming words of support and farewell in your hearts," BTS's label Big Hit Music told fans last week, urging them to stay away from the families-only entrance ceremony.
Fans were stunned in June when the group revealed they were going on hiatus, citing exhaustion and pressure, as well as the desire to pursue solo careers.
But analysts said the announcement was strategically timed because of the compulsory military duty.
The group will reunite around 2025, when the seven members have completed their service.
"For a while, it's true that there were many fans who would spend days just crying," said a South Korean fan, who runs the Twitter account @5heterotopia.
Nimah Mustafa, 20, a fan in Dubai, added: "[Jin's absence] will be like a huge ... void for me."
South Korea exempts some elite athletes, such as Olympic medallists and classical musicians, from duty, but pop stars do not qualify.
However, BTS have already benefited from a 2020 revision to the conscription law that raised the enlistment deadline for some entertainers from age 28 to 30.
Jin, the oldest member of BTS, turned 30 on December 4.
'They won't be forgotten'
The seismic changes for BTS in 2022 have sparked feverish speculation among fans and K-pop watchers about what the future holds for the group — will they retain their fame or struggle to revive that success?
Some K-pop stars have struggled to resume their careers after military service in a cut-throat industry where artists are easily replaced.
"For the K-pop industry, the retreat of BTS will be a big deal," Lee Taek-gwang, a communications professor at Kyung Hee University, said.
"During the absence, they could lose public interest, and the decline in popularity will damage their business. It would not be easy for the boy band to reunite."
However, other experts have pointed to the massive success of BTS and said they will be an exception to that trend.
They "obtained another level of popularity, influence and credibility," said Lee Ji-young, a BTS expert and professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.
"So they won't be forgotten by other artists in a highly competitive K-pop industry," she added.
Since their debut in 2013, BTS have been widely credited with doing more than any diplomat or other celebrity to boost the image and soft power of South Korea, today considered a global cultural powerhouse.
They have been invited to speak at the United Nations, and to meet US President Joe Biden at the White House. They are also official ambassadors to bring the 2030 World Expo to Busan, South Korea.
The South Korean government has credited BTS with bringing billions of dollars into the economy.
'Frontline' deployment?
But despite that success, a draft proposal to grant them service exemptions proved too controversial and never made it through parliament.
"In South Korea, the military service is the indicator of egalitarianism... (where) all men are equal," Lee from Kyung Hee University said, adding that it was a "necessary" symbol of citizenship.
Jin will reportedly join a "frontline" unit stationed near the border with North Korea.
"It shows the role of culture, and public opinion, in shaping international affairs. Is this 'frontline' role a combat role, or is it about public relations and media?" said.
Jin bid farewell to thousands of tearful fans in Buenos Aires in October when he performed his new song The Astronaut with Coldplay.
On Monday, he posted a photo of himself with military-style cropped hair on the South Korean social media platform Weverse, with the caption: "It's cuter than I expected".
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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.
