All members of the globally renowned boy group BTS are now enlisted in the military.
This morning, BTS members Jimin and Jungkook entered the training camp around 1:30 PM in Yeoncheon-gun, Gangwon Province, where the 5th Infantry Division of the Army is located. Following RM and V, who enlisted the day before, they are the final members of BTS to enlist.
The atmosphere was vibrant as families bid farewell to their loved ones entering the training camp, yet the discernible presence of BTS’s dedicated fandom, ARMY, was notably subdued. There was just a handful of international fans from countries such as Thailand and Japan eagerly awaiting Jimin and Jungkook’s enlistment, and their impact remained inconspicuous, causing no disruptions to traffic or disturbances.
In anticipation of potential crowding, BTS’s agency, Big Hit Music, had already set a clear stance: “The entrance ceremony is an occasion for military personnel and their families. We advise fans to avoid visiting the site to prevent any disruptions. Please keep your support and warm wishes in your hearts.” Respecting this guidance, the fandom collectively chose to heed the message, refraining from attending.
Instead, ARMY expressed their support for BTS’s enlistment quietly through various banners. Banners such as “Wishing a healthy military service for Sergeant Jungkook and all soldiers,” “Every day waiting for Jungkook is filled with happiness,” “Jimin, come back in good health,” and “Jimin, we love you, and we’ll wait for you” were displayed at the site. Large buses featuring the faces of BTS and giant balloons with supportive messages were also spotted at the training center location.
K-netizens were impressed with the ARMYs keeping their promise and not appearing at the training site, and commented, “I’m proud of the ARMYs,” “I think it’s amazing how the fandom also kept their promise and not showed up at the training site,” “The fans are amazing too,” “So nice of them to not show up,” and “There are so many fandoms who don’t listen but the ARMYs are so good.”
With the enlistment of Jimin and Jungkook, BTS officially entered a period of collective military service hiatus. The expected discharge dates for RM, V, Jimin, and Jungkook are set for June 2025. Both BTS and their management label hope to resume full-scale activities in 2025.
