BTS Member Jin Begins Military Service At Frontline In South Korea
Jin, the oldest member of K-pop supergroup BTS, began his 18 months of mandatory military service at a front-line South Korean boot camp Tuesday as fans gathered near the base to say goodbye to their star.
Author:Alex MercerReviewer:Nathanial BlackwoodDec 13, 20226 Shares398 Views
BTS member Jin begins military serviceand he was supposed to start his mandatory military service on Tuesday at a base near the border with North Korea. This came as rumors about the band's future continued to grow.
The 30-year-old, who now has a buzzcut, will be followed into the military by younger members of the band in the coming years. Their impending enlistment caused a debate in South Korea about whether the band and other successful entertainers should be given exemptions.
Jin will spend five weeks at an army boot camp in Yeoncheon, which is close to the heavily defended border with North Korea, before being sent to a unit to finish his 18-month assignment.
BTS Member Jin Begins Military Service
BTS member Jin begins military duty at front-line boot camp
Jin, the oldest member of the K-pop supergroup BTS, is the first member of the group to join the military. Before he joined the army on Tuesday, the 30-year-old posted a picture of himself with a new military haircut. "It looks cuter than I expected," he said.
Since South Korea is still technically at war with its hostile neighbor North Korea, all men who are able to serve are required to do so. Jin has started training for five weeks at a boot camp near the border with North Korea.
Jin has signed up for the Yeoncheon boot camp, where recruits sleep on mats on the floor in rooms with up to 30 other people. Before being put through difficult wartime scenarios, they are taught how to use weapons and fire real bullets.
After surprising fans by saying they were taking a break from playing, the band's seven members said in October that they would do their military duty.
All able-bodied South Korean men between the ages of 18 and 30 are required to serve in the military for at least a year and a half. This is to keep the country ready for a possible war with the nuclear-armed North.
Many people think that BTS is South Korea's biggest cultural phenomenon because they sell out stadiums all over the world, rule the charts, make millions of dollars, and have a legion of fans around the world who call themselves "the Army."
Because of their fame and ability to make a lot of money (they have brought billions of dollars to the South Korean economy), there has been a debate about whether stars in the entertainment industry should be allowed to skip military service or do other jobs instead.
Athletes, classical and traditional musicians, ballet dancers, and other dancers who have won top prizes in certain competitions and raised the prestige of the country are exempt from the law. The exemption doesn't apply to K-pop stars or other entertainers, even ones like BTS who have been successful all over the world. Jung Duk-Hyun, a pop culture commentator, said:
“„Though BTS members have opted to go to the military, there are still some sort of regrets. in the pop culture sector experience little bit of disadvantages and unfairness, compared with those in the pure art sector or athletes. This will probably continue to be an issue of controversy so I wonder if it must be discussed continuously.- Jung Duk-Hyun
Big Hit Music, the band's record label, told fans to stay away from the base, where families of new recruits go to say goodbye. Last week, the label said, “We ask you to keep your heartwarming words of support and farewell in your hearts,” the label said last week.
About 20–30 fans were waiting outside the camp, which was about 45 km from the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas. This was a small number, which suggests that many people had listened to calls to stay away.
Police officers blocked off streets to keep people from getting hurt, and an ambulance was sent to the scene. The strict safety rules come just a few weeks after 158 people died in a Halloween crowd crush in Seoul.
Fans of BTS were shocked in June when the group announced it was taking a break. They said they were tired and under a lot of pressure, and they also wanted to focus on their solo careers. Analysts said, though, that the timing of the announcement took into account military duty.
When the group's six other members, RM, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, who is the youngest at 25, have finished their service, they will get back together around 2025.
This year, BTS has gone through some big changes that have made fans and people who follow K-pop wonder what the group's future holds.
Some male K-pop stars have had trouble getting their careers back on track after serving in the military. This is because the music industry is very competitive and artists are easy to replace. Lee Taek-Gwang, a professor of cultural studies at Kyung Hee University (KHU) said:
“„For the K-pop industry, the retreat of BTS will be a big deal. During the absence, they could lose public interest, and the decline in popularity will damage their business. It would not be easy for the boyband to reunite.- Lee Taek-Gwang
But other experts have said that BTS could be an exception to that rule because of how popular they are.
Since their first show in 2013, many people have said that BTS has done more than any diplomat or celebrity to improve South Korea's image and soft power.
With their first all-English song, "Dynamite," BTS became the first K-pop group to top Billboard's Hot 100. This helped the group become more popular in the west.
The band has played in full arenas all over the world and has been asked to speak at the United Nations and meet Vice President Joe Biden at the White House.
Conclusion
Jin, the oldest member of the K-pop group BTS, was going to start his 18-month military service at a frontline boot camp in South Korea today. Fans gathered near the base to say goodbye to their star.
In the coming years, six more younger BTS members will join the military one by one. This means that South Korea's most popular music group will have to take a break, likely for a few years.
Big Hit Music said that both the company and the members of BTS "are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment.”
Alex Mercer
Author
Alex Mercer is a seasoned author and analyst specializing in wealth research, with a keen focus on evaluating the net worth of individuals across various industries. With over a decade of experience in financial analysis and wealth assessment, Alex has developed a nuanced understanding of the factors that contribute to an individual's financial status, from investments and assets to market trends and economic policies. His work involves in-depth reviews and analyses, providing insightful observations on wealth accumulation, management strategies, and the socio-economic implications of wealth distribution.
Throughout his career, Alex has become known for his ability to distill complex financial data into understandable and engaging narratives, making the subject of wealth and net worth accessible to a broad audience. His expertise is not just in numbers but in telling the stories behind them, highlighting the journeys, strategies, and decisions that lead to financial success or challenges. Alex's contributions to the field of wealth research are valuable resources for anyone looking to understand the dynamics of wealth in today's world, offering a unique perspective that bridges the gap between financial analysis and human interest.
Nathanial Blackwood
Reviewer
Nathanial (Nate) Blackwood is a distinguished financial journalist with a decade of experience in net worth analysis. He holds an Economics degree from the University of Finance and a Data Analysis certification, enabling him to blend thorough insights with engaging storytelling. Nate is known for making complex financial information accessible to a wide audience, earning acclaim for his precise and reader-friendly analyses. Beyond his writing, Nate is dedicated to financial literacy, actively participating in educational forums and workshops.
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