Seokjin Military - BTS member Jin begins his military service at South Korea's top training camp. And the six younger members of BTS are set to join the army one by one in the coming years, meaning the world's biggest boy band will have to take a few years off.

A fan waits for Jin, a member of K-pop group BTS, to arrive before entering the army to serve near a military training center in Yeoncheon, South Korea, on Tuesday. Ahn Young-joon/AP Hide caption

Seokjin Military

Seokjin Military

A fan waits for Jin, a member of K-pop group BTS, to arrive before entering the army to serve near a military training center in Yeoncheon, South Korea, on Tuesday.

Bts' Jin Initially Planned To Enlist In The Military In June 2022

YEONCHEON, South Korea — Jin, a senior member of K-pop supergroup BTS, began 18 months of mandatory military service at South Korea's top training camp on Tuesday as fans gathered near the base to say goodbye to their star.

Six more younger members of BTS will join the army one by one in the coming years, meaning that the world's biggest boy group will have to take a few years off. Their admissions have sparked a heated domestic debate over whether it's time to revise the country's mandatory registration system to expand the exemption to include mainstream entertainers like BTS, or not grant such benefits to anyone.

Their parent body said in October that all BDS members would perform their mandatory military service, as lawmakers battled in parliament to exclude BDS members and opinion polls showed sharply divided public opinion. Both Big Hit Music Company and BTS members said they "look forward to reuniting as a group again in 2025 following their service commitments."

Jin, who turned 30 earlier this month, entered a training camp in Yeoncheon, a city near North Korea's tense border, for five weeks of basic military training, the defense ministry said. After training that includes shooting, throwing grenades and marching drills, he and other veterans will be assigned to military units around the country.

Bts' Jin Learns To Throw Grenade In Army, Fans Spot 'commander Of Trainees' Tag

About 20-30 fans - some holding photos of Jin - and dozens of journalists gathered near the camp. But Jin didn't find them because the vehicle that brought him entered the boot camp without moving him.

"I want to wait for Jin and see him join the army and wish him luck," Hong Kong native Mandy Lee said before Jin entered the camp.

"It's really complicated. I want to be sad. I want to be happy for him," said Angelina, from Indonesia. "Mixed feelings. He has to serve his country." Angelina, like most Indonesians, only uses one name.

Seokjin Military

Two dozen fans can be seen as a small number considering Jin's huge popularity. However, Jin and his management company previously asked fans not to visit the site and informed that there will be no special events involving the singer to avoid any problems caused by congestion.

Photo: Bts' Jin Shares First Look As A Soldier Following Military Enlistment

Jin from K-pop group BTS shows off his newly shaved hair on K-pop social media site Weverse in this Weverse-provided photo, which was uploaded on Dec. 11, 2022 ahead of his upcoming military service. Vevers through the hide AP topic

Jin from K-pop group BTS shows off his newly shaved hair on K-pop social media site Weverse in this Weverse-provided photo, which was uploaded on Dec. 11, 2022 ahead of his upcoming military service.

The authorities have mobilized another 300 police officers, soldiers, emergency personnel and others to maintain order and guard against any accidents. Tighter security measures are expected as South Korea is still reeling from a devastating Halloween attraction that killed 158 people in Seoul in October.

Hours before entering camp, Jin - whose real name is Kim Seok-jin - wrote on the Weavers' online fan site, "It's time for curtain call." He posted a photo of himself in a military suit on Sunday, along with a message that read, "Ha ha ha. Better than I expected."

Bts' Jin Worked Hard In His Army Training And These Photos Prove It

By law, all able-bodied South Korean men must serve in the army for 18-21 months under a conscription system set up to counter the threat from North Korea. But the law gives special exemptions to athletes, traditional and classical musicians and ballet and other dancers who have won the top prize in certain competitions and raised the country's prestige. K-pop stars and other entertainers are not afforded such privileges even though they are globally famous and win major international awards.

"Even though BTS members want to go to the army, there is still some regret," said Jung Tak-hyun, a pop culture commentator. "Compared to the pure art industry or athletes, people in the pop culture industry experience a little bit of disadvantage and injustice. It will continue to be a controversial issue, so I wonder if it should continue to be discussed."

Avoiding exemptions or obligations is a particularly sensitive issue in South Korea, where the draft often puts young people on hold in their studies or careers. Defense Minister Lee Jong-sub and Lee Ki-sik, head of South Korea's Recruiting Office, previously said it was "appropriate" for BTS members to perform their military duties to ensure integrity in the country's military service.

Seokjin Military

Chun In-bum, a retired lieutenant general who headed South Korea's special forces, said conscription was a "very serious" problem amid the country's declining fertility rate, and the government should act to reverse the exemption. He called the discussion about BTS's military service "unnecessary" because it was not raised by BTS members, who have shown interest in fulfilling their duties.

The Powerful Voice Of Bts' Jin Commanding His Unit In Military Service (video)

BTS was formed in 2013 and has a worldwide legion of fans who call themselves an "army". The other members are RM, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook, who is the youngest at 25 years old. The group expanded its popularity in the West with the 2020 megahit "Dynamite", the group's first full-length English song. BTS is the first K-pop act to top Billboard's Hot 100. The group has performed in sold-out arenas around the world and has been invited to speak at United Nations meetings.

Big Hit's parent company, Hype Corp, said in October that each member of the group would for now focus on individual activities planned around their military service plans. In October, Jin released the single "The Astronaut", co-written by Coldplay.

Commentator Jung said the sold-out project will give the BTS members much-needed time to develop themselves after years of working together as a team. But K-pop commentator Cha Woo-jin said it's unclear whether BTS will enjoy the same popularity as a group when they reunite after leaving the military in a few years.

In August, Defense Minister Lee said serving BTS members would be allowed to continue training and join other non-serving BTS members on group tours overseas.

Star's Tearful Farewell To Fans After Bts Member Jin Enlists In The Military!

Cha said that K-pop's global influence will not be greatly affected by the addition of BTS members because they "seem to represent K-pop, but they are not all K-pop." Chung admitted that other K-pop groups such as BLACKPINK, Stray Kids and aespa could rise further. Jin, whose full name is Kim Seok-jin, begins his military service in Yeoncheon, where he will undergo five weeks of basic training and study. Shooting, throwing grenades and fighting, among other extreme exercises.

Almost ten days after Jin was drafted into the army to serve his 18-month mandatory military service, his first picture was released. Jin, a senior member of K-pop boy group BTS, began his annual training on December 13 in Yeonseon County, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

On December 23, The Camp posted a picture of Jin wearing a military uniform to keep his loved ones updated with the Korean military, according to Soompi.

Seokjin Military

Several photos and videos of Jin from the army camp went viral on social media platforms. One video shows Jin, dressed in military uniform and wearing a mask, carrying a chair with other soldiers.

Final Decision On Jin (bts) Military Enlistment Will Be Made By December

Fans got emotional seeing their favorite stars in military uniforms. Some praised the star and wrote: "Proud to serve in the Jin Army, it proves that BTS can do anything or make BTS proud.

Check out this post on Instagram A post shared by Jimin 지민 (@parkjimin.bts.95).

Jin's first military photo with list: Written on paper: Eleventh Division, Second Regiment, Group 5 46 - Kim Seokjin 😭😭😭#SEOKJIN #JIN #KimSeokjin #JINJIN #jinmilitary pic.twitter.com/og4Ae8neN2 — Ayat🎓JK⁹⁷ (@ 7btskook ) December 23, 2022

Seokjin now belongs to the Ministry of National Defense. He is a national asset. If BigHit, which is not a member of the Ministry of National Security, publishes an unauthorized picture, it becomes a big problem. Image courtesy of Army and Gin. officially. Got it? #TheAstronaut #Jin pic.twitter.com/mpuN5q9KeS — star_jin (@nightstar1201) December 23, 2022

Bts' Jin Reveals First Look As A Soldier After Military Enlistment

2nd Platoon 11th Division, Team 5 46 Kim Seokjin Kim Seokjin paves the way (sketch picture of training at the camp site)#Jin #angkasawan #방탄소년단진@bts_twt. translation team) (@for_seokjin1992) December 23, 2022

After five weeks of training, he and the others

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