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· Michelle De Pacina
BTS’ Suga starts mandatory military service in South Korea
BTS’ Suga, whose real name is Min Yoon-gi, has commenced his mandatory military service as a social service agent, an alternative form of military service in South Korea. Suga’s commitment: On Friday, Suga expressed on social media his commitment to fulfilling his military duty,…
· Editorial Staff
BTS’ Suga starts military enlistment process
BTS’ label Big Hit Music recently announced that group member Suga has officially started his military enlistment process. About the announcement: In a Weverse post on Monday, the South Korean music label updated BTS fans with the news, writing, “We would like to inform our fans…
· Editorial Staff
BTS’ Jin inadvertently helps a fan in Brazil avoid getting robbed
Social media users are applauding BTS’ Jin for inadvertently helping a fan avoid getting robbed in Brazil while serving his mandatory military service in South Korea. What happened: On Tuesday, Brazilian media outlet RIC Mais reported about a robbery in Paraná, Brazil, that…
· Daniel Anderson
Ravi apologizes, leaves VIXX over military service evasion scandal
South Korean rapper Ravi has left K-pop boy band VIXX following allegations he used falsified medical documents to evade the country’s mandatory military service. Ravi, whose real name is Kim Won-sik, reportedly hired a military broker known to falsify medical documents. In…
· Daniel Anderson
HYBE founder states BTS reunion in 2025 is a ‘hope,’ not a guarantee
HYBE, the label behind global K-pop sensation BTS, has yet to confirm plans for the group’s reunion, according to label founder Bang Si-hyuk. Speaking at the Gwanhun Forum in Seoul on Tuesday, Bang clarified that while HYBE and BTS are working toward a 2025 reunion, it is not…
· Daniel Anderson
BTS’ Jin wins military talent show, earns extra vacation day
BTS’ Jin is putting his idol training to good use during his military service, as shown by a recent talent show win. A talent show was held within the K-pop star’s military unit ahead of Lunar New Year. Jin assisted his group by teaching them dance moves, which reportedly helped…
· Daniel Anderson
‘Twenty-Five Twenty-One’ star Nam Joo-hyuk to enlist in military police force
South Korean actor Nam Joo-hyuk is set to join the military in a few months. According to Soompi, a source from his agency Management SOOP gave an update about his upcoming military service, saying, “It is true that Nam Joo Hyuk was accepted into the military police force. He…
· Daniel Anderson
VIXX’s Ravi accused of using broker to dodge military duty
Ravi, a rapper and member of the South Korean boy band VIXX, has been accused of using a broker to evade his mandatory military service. The broker, who has reportedly been arrested and indicted, told prosecutors that they helped Ravi manipulate his health records and fake a…
· Daniel Anderson
BTS’ Jin officially enlists in South Korean military
BTS’ oldest member Jin has become the first of the group to start his mandatory military enlistment. On Tuesday, Jin posted a message to South Korean social media site Weverse, writing: “It’s time for a curtain call,” before heading off to a bootcamp in Yeon-cheon, South Korea,…
· Daniel Anderson
BTS members to enlist in military, starting with Jin
HYBE released an official statement on Monday confirming that all seven members of BTS will serve their mandatory military duties. Jin, the group’s oldest member, is slated to enlist first since he turns 30 in December. He will “initiate the process” after he releases his solo…
· Daniel Anderson
South Korean defense minister calls BTS fulfilling military service ‘desirable’
South Korean defense minister Lee Jong-sup said it is “desirable that members of BTS carry out their mandatory military service” during the National Defense Committee’s interpellation session on Tuesday. Lee was asked to give his opinion on a proposal from lawmaker Kim Young-bae…
· Daniel Anderson
S. Korean lawmaker proposes bill to allow BTS to serve alternative to military duty
Lawmaker Kim Young-bae of the Democratic Party of Korea has proposed a bill for K-pop superstars BTS to be granted an alternative to their upcoming mandatory military service. The proposal made on Sep. 19 would revise the current provisions and expand the list of exceptions for…
· Daniel Anderson
New poll reveals majority of S. Koreans think BTS should serve their military enlistment
A new poll conducted by research company JOWON C&I on September 4 found that 54% of 1,001 South Koreans think BTS should carry out their military enlistment. The age group with the largest majority in favor were voters in their 20s, with 73.2% believing BTS should serve. Both a…
· Bryan Ke
South Korea may launch public survey to decide on BTS’ mandatory military service
South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup reportedly ordered officials to conduct a survey to help determine whether mega group BTS should receive an exemption from mandatory military service. The country’s defense ministry later clarified Lee’s statement following online…
· Daniel Anderson
Busan mayor floats alternative to military service for K-pop mega group BTS
Park Heong-joon, mayor of Busan, South Korea, has issued a formal proposal to the president’s office asking for K-pop superstars BTS to be granted an alternative to their upcoming mandatory military service. He proposed BTS become public relations (PR) ambassadors for Busan in…
· Daniel Anderson
Benny Blanco collaborates with BTS and Snoop Dogg in new single ‘Bad Decisions’
Producer Benny Blanco dropped his new collaborative track “Bad Decisions” with BTS and Snoop Dogg on Friday. The song features BTS members Jungkook, Jimin, V and Jin, and the music video centers around Blanco ecstatically preparing for a BTS concert. Blanco is a well-documented…
· Daniel Anderson
‘Smooth like butter’: BTS to release cookbook with favorite recipes
BTS’ label Hybe announced that they will be releasing a cookbook featuring the South Korean mega group’s personal recipes. The cookbook is slated to come out later this year and will come in two versions: a "Global Edition" and a "Japan Edition." Each recipe will be paired with…
· Daniel Anderson
BTS J-Hope makes history with Lollapalooza headlining set
BTS member J-Hope gave a historic headlining performance at Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Chicago, over the weekend, becoming the first South Korean artist to lead the festival. He reportedly performed 18 songs across 70 minutes, including hits from his recent solo album “Jack in…
· Daniel Anderson
BTS might get to perform during military service, South Korean defense minister says
South Korean Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-sup shared during a parliamentary session on Monday that even if the members of K-pop boy group BTS join the army, “there would be a way to give them a chance to practice and perform together if there are scheduled concerts…
· Daniel Anderson
Korea Singers Association face backlash after asking BTS to ‘reconsider’ their break
The head of the Korea Singers Association issued a statement on June 22 in The Korea Times imploring BTS to “reconsider” the group’s temporary break. Lee Ja-yeon expressed concern that without BTS, the K-pop industry and the hallyu (Korean wave) would decline. Army was quick to…