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Associated Press

It is official – almost. Soon, all seven members of the massively popular K-pop group BTS will have completed South Korea’s mandatory military service.
Rapper Suga will be the last of the bandmates to be released, on Saturday, after fulfilling his duty as a social service agent, an alternative to serving in the military that he reportedly chose because of a shoulder injury.
BTS’ entertainment agency said no events are planned for Suga’s release out of concern for overcrowding.
The six others – RM, V, Jimin, Jungkook, Jin and J-Hope – served in the army. Four of them – RM, V, Jimin and Jungkook – were discharged earlier this month. Jin, the eldest BTS member, was discharged in June 2024, as was J-Hope in October.


BTS are expected to reunite later this year. Ahead of that highly anticipated homecoming, here is what you need to know about the group.
BTS – short for Bangtan Sonyeondan, or “Bulletproof Boy Scouts” in Korean – debuted in June 2013 under the company Big Hit Entertainment, now known as Hybe.
The group launched with the hip-hop-heavy single album 2 Cool 4 Skool, before releasing three full-length projects and later really gaining momentum with their 2016 album Wings.
Their global breakthrough came in 2017 when their song “DNA” entered the US Billboard Hot 100, making BTS the first Korean boy band to achieve such a feat.
The song’s success was followed by a performance at the American Music Awards, further fuelling their international fan base.
The band is largely credited with bringing K-pop to the international stage, and with good reason. Across their discography, BTS broke boundaries and records: in 2020, they released the five-time platinum “Dynamite”, their first all-English single, which debuted at No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 – a first for an all-South Korean musical act.
At the height of their popularity, BTS were not only the biggest K-pop group on the planet, but the biggest boy band overall.

In fact, they have been certified platinum many times over, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
Their platinum successes include 2018’s “Mic Drop” track; 2020 albums Map of the Soul: 7, Love Yourself: Answer and song “Idol”; 2021’s Be album, and song of the summer “Butter”; and high-profile collaborations “My Universe” with Coldplay and “Boy With Luv” featuring Halsey.
BTS have also been nominated for five Grammy Awards. Their first, for “Dynamite” in the best pop duo/group performance category, marked the first time a K-pop act received a Grammy nod.
As their global popularity grew, the septet also became international advocates for social justice. Their 2018 address to the United Nations General Assembly launched the “Love Myself” campaign in partnership with Unicef to combat violence, abuse and bullying while promoting self-esteem among young people.
The group’s commitment to human rights activism continued in 2020 when they donated US$1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement, denouncing racial discrimination and violence. Their fan base, known the world over as Army, responded by matching the donation within 24 hours.
Their dual impact on music and social causes culminated in 2022 when they were invited to the White House to discuss anti-Asian hate crimes with then US President Joe Biden.


In South Korea, all able-bodied men aged 18 to 28 are required by law to perform 18 to 21 months of military service under a conscription system meant to deter aggression from rival North Korea.
The law gives special exemptions to athletes, classical and traditional musicians, and ballet and other dancers if they have obtained top prizes in certain competitions and are assessed to have enhanced national prestige. K-pop stars and other entertainers are not subject to such privileges.
However, in 2020, BTS postponed their service until age 30 after South Korea’s National Assembly revised its Military Service Act, allowing K-pop stars to delay their enlistment until age 30.
There was heated public debate in 2022 over whether to offer special exemptions from mandatory military service for BTS members, until the group’s management agency announced in October 2022 that all seven members would fulfil their duties.


BTS tiered their enlistments, giving ample time for their members to focus on solo projects while the group was on a break.
Jin released two EPs, Happy in 2024 and Echo in May of this year. Suga dropped his debut solo album, D-Day, in 2023 under his moniker Agust D.
Also in 2024, RM released his second solo album, the elastic, experimental Right Place, Wrong Person, and J-Hope released an EP, Hope on the Street Vol. 1. Earlier this year, J-Hope embarked on his first solo tour.
Jimin released two projects, 2023’s Face and 2024’s Muse. V’s debut album, the smooth alt-R&B Layover, arrived in 2023, as did Jungkook’s retro-pop debut, Golden.


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Why South Koreans are falling out of love with K-pop: ‘it’s all in English now’

K-pop, Mandopop and other Asian pop

All about K-pop superstars BTS as last member finishes up mandatory military service

BTS at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in 2022, in Las Vegas. The K-pop boy group are expected to reunite later this year, as the last member - Suga - completes his mandatory military service this week. Photo: AP

BTS perform Butter at the American Music Awards in 2021 in Los Angeles. Photo: AP

BTS Army celebrate group’s return from military service by helping Korean adoptees

BTS members RM (right) and V salute their fans in Chuncheon, South Korea after finishing 18 months of military service, on June 10, 2025. Photo: AFP

Jungkook (left) and Jimin of BTS salute for the media and fans shortly after their release from 18 months of South Korean military service. Photo: AFP

KoRoot is a Seoul-based organisation that helps Korean adoptees search for their records and birth families. Photo: AFP

KoRoot’s leader Kim Do-hyun (left) and co-representative Peter Moller. Photo: AFP 

Will BTS make a comeback? 4 members of Korean boy band to end military service this week

BTS promote their single “Butter” in 2021. Members of the Korean boy band V (far left), Jungkook (centre), RM (third from right) and Jimin (second from right) will complete their mandatory military service in South Korea this week. Photo: AP

Korean boy band BTS – Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook – perform in military uniform in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 2015 as if anticipating their coming mandatory service in South Korea’s armed forces. Photo: Getty Images

Who is Seol In-ah, rising star from K-dramas Oh My Ghost Clients and Business Proposal?

Korean actress Seol In-ah, who is currently starring in the Korean drama series Oh My Ghost Clients. Photo: Instagram/_seorina

Seol In-ah in a still from Oh My Ghost Clients.

Seol in a still from Twinkling Watermelon (2023).

Seol in a still from Mr. Queen (2020).

Seol in a still from Business Proposal (2022).

Seol in a still from Oasis (2023).

Seol in a still from the film Emergency Declaration (2021).

How Gillian Chung of Cantopop duo Twins survived the Edison Chen photo scandal to keep thriving as a singer and actress

Gillian Chung at an interview with the Post in 2009. Photo: SCMP

Gillian Chung at an interview with the Post in 2010. Chung, one half of Hong Kong’s Cantopop duo Twins, is now thriving as a singer and actress but the road to success – marred by a scandal involving intimate photos – has not been an easy one. Photo: SCMP

Charlene Choi (left), then 18, and Chung, 20, at an interview with the Post in 2001. Photo: SCMP

Choi and Chung perform on stage at HarbourFest in October, 2003. Photo: SCMP

Chung (left) in a still from “The Twins Effect” (2003).

Chung speaks at a press conference attended by more than 300 artists, legislators and supporters in Tseung Kwan O in 2006. Photo: SCMP

Chung (left) and Choi at the Asian Film Awards presentation ceremony in Wan Chai in 2007. Photo: SCMP

Chung was interviewed in March 2009 about the photos of her and Edison Chen. Photo: TVB

Chung at an interview with the Post in 2009. Photo: SCMP

Chung (left) and Choi of Twins meet their fans in March 2010 ahead of their reunion concert, titled “Bouncing Back”, at the Hong Kong Coliseum. Photo: SCMP

Chung and Michael Lai on their wedding day, with (back row from left) bridesmaids Yumiko Cheng, Joey Yung and Choi, in 2018. Photo: Instagram/@yungchoyee

Gillian Chung in a still from the film “Prison Flowers” (2023).

Gillian Chung (left) and Charlene Choi during preparations for their 2024 concert series. Photo: Instagram/@q_gill

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BTS’ seven members are expected to reunite later this year. Before they do, we examine their global impact, records and advocacy journey


BTS’ seven members are expected to reunite later this year. Before they do, we examine their global impact, records and advocacy journey.


K-pop idols

Music

South Korean celebrities

Fame and celebrity

All about K-pop superstars BTS as last member finishes up mandatory military service

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}BTS’ seven members are expected to reunite later this year. Before they do, we examine their global impact, records and advocacy journey

BTS’ seven members are expected to reunite later this year. Before they do, we examine their global impact, records and advocacy journey