BTS’ RM & V Just Returned From Their Mandatory Military Service—See Which Members Will Be Discharged Next

Why is BTS going to the military?

Why is BTS going to the military? In South Korea, every able-bodied man must enlist for military service by the age of 30 and serve for 18 to 21 months. Some exceptions were made for men who have served their nation in other ways, such as notable elite athletes or classical musicians. Before Jin’s enlistment, the South Korean government debated whether BTS members should go serve in the military as they’ve had a significant impact on Korea’s spread of culture and their contributions to the country’s overall economy, but it was ultimately decided that the group’s seven members should serve as scheduled. Since Jin will be turning 30 in December 2022, he was the first member to do his mandatory military enlistment. According to Big Hit, each member will “carry out their individual plans” before they enlist.

What is BTS’ military schedule?

BTS’ military schedule complies with the South Korean age requirement since Jin will be the first to enlist. Though each member varies in age, Big Hit confirmed that they are all expected to reunite as a group in 2025. Here is a list of when each BTS member enlisted in the military.

• Jin’s Enlistment Date: December 13, 2022 / Return date: June 12, 2024
• RM’s Enlistment Date: December 11, 2023 / Return date: June 10, 2025
• Suga’s Enlistment Date: September 22, 2023 / Return date: June 21, 2025
• j-hope’s Enlistment Date: April 18, 2023 / Return date: October 16, 2024
• Jimin’s Enlistment Date: December 12, 2023 / Return date: June 11, 2025
• V’s Enlistment Date: December 11, 2023 / Return date: June 10, 2025
• Jung Kook’s Enlistment Date: December 12, 2023 / Return date: June 11, 2025

When did RM serve in the military?

Start date: December 11, 2023
End date: June 10, 2025

The leader of the group, Kim Namjoon, known as RM, enlisted on December 11, 2023. On November 21, 2023, BIGHIT Music announced that the four remaining members RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook have started the military enlistment process.

“The artists are preparing to fulfill their military service duties. We will inform you of further updates in due course,” the entertainment company posted on the fan community site Weverse. “We ask you for your continued love and support for RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook until they complete their military service and safely return. Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artists.”

“I’ve been so happy to have been a part of BTS for the past 10 years … Eighteen months can feel both long and short at the same time and I’m sure this period will be a strange and new time of inspiration and learning for all of us,” RM said in a statement posted on his Instagram account and Weverse. “See you in the future. I love you a lot.”

During his military service, he released a second album named Right Place, Wrong Person on May 24, 2024. He, along with V, were discharged from the military on June 10, 2025.

When did Jin serve in the military?

Start date: December 12, 2022
End date: June 11, 2024

Jin is the first BTS member to enlist in the military. The oldest member of the group turned 30 in December 2022, which is the age cap for the mandatory listing. In a statement, BigHit said: “Group member Jin will initiate the process as soon as his schedule for his solo release is concluded at the end of October. He will then follow the enlistment procedure of the Korean government.”

During their concert for the Busan bid for the 2030 World Expo on October 15, 2022, Jin announced that he will be the next member after J-Hope to release his solo work. His single will be released “soon,” and he said, “I was able to work together with someone that I’d always really liked, so I’ll be releasing a new song. I’ve filmed a lot of different things recently, and there’s still a lot of [content] left to film, so I hope you’ll enjoy all of it.” On October 28, 2022, Jin released the single “The Astronaut” which was co-written by his friends in Coldplay.

Big Hit Entertainment announced via the fan community site Weverse on December 6, 2022, that fans are not allowed at Jin’s entrance ceremony during his enlistment. “Jin will fulfill his required time with the military by enlisting in the army. Please note that we will not be holding any kind of official event on the day of his recruitment. The entrance ceremony is a time to be observed by military personnel and their families only. In order to prevent any issues that might occur from crowding, we ask fans to please refrain from visiting the site. Instead, we ask you to keep your heartwarming words of support and farewell in your hearts.” Billboard reported that Jin’s enlistment date is December 13, 2022. In a surprise appearance from a phone call from J-Hope at the 2022 MAMA Awards, Jin said via telephone, “I’ll go and come back from the military well!”

On December 11, 2022, Jin posted a selfie on Weverse with his military buzzcut and captioned it “Cuter than expected” in Korean. He also posted a goodbye message on the fan and artist community site, saying “Ok it’s now time for the curtain call (I wanted to say this when I enlisted)” referring to a character’s line in his favorite game League of Legends who is also named Jhin. All the other six members wished Jin a happy goodbye, with RM posting on his Instagram stories a picture of the boys touching Jin’s shaved head with the caption “Love you, our Jin. See you soon! It’s reported that Jin started his training on December 13, 2022, at the Gyeonggi Province, close to the border with North Korea.

In June 2024, BigHit Music announced Jin’s return on Weverse. “Jin is close to completing his active service in the army and will soon be discharged,” the statement read. It also reminded fans that there were no special events in place and that discharge day was for military personnel only, urging fans to not visit the site to avoid any “any issues arising from overcrowding.”

Jin returned from the military on June 11, 2024. The other six members greeted Jin outside his military station, as they all had pre-approved time off from their military duties on that day.

When is Suga’s military discharge date?

Start Date: September 22, 2023
End Date: June 21, 2025

BTS’ rapper and producer, Min Yoongi, known as Suga, has announced his plans to join the military. After his momentous D-Day World Tour, BigHit Entertainment announced through the fan community site Weverse that Suga has ended his enlistment postponement.

BigHit Entertainment posted on Weverse that Suga will start his service on September 22, 2023. “SUGA will be beginning his required service on September 22,” the statement read. “There will not be any official events taking place on the day he starts his service or on the day he enters the training camp. We kindly ask fans to refrain from visiting SUGA at his workplace during the period of his service. Please convey your warm regards and encouragement in your hearts only.”

The statement continued, “Furthermore, please be mindful to avoid getting adversely affected by unauthorized tours or package products that illegally use the artist’s intellectual property. Our company will take appropriate measures against attempts at any commercial activity that make unauthorized use of artist IP. We ask for your continued love and support for SUGA until he completes his service and returns. Our company will also strive to provide all the support he needs during this time.

Suga posted on Weverse on the day of his enlistment while giving his thanks and support to ARMY. “I’ll faithfully serve and come back … Please stay healthy and let’s meet all again in 2025.”

Because of a shoulder surgery in 2020, Suga will serve as a social service agent, per the Associated Press. The job is a kind of compulsory employment set up as an alternative to military conscription, especially for those with physical or mental health issues (though they still have to complete three weeks of basic military training at some point). He is expected to be discharged on June 21, 2025.

When did j-hope serve in the military?

Start date: February 26, 2023
End date: October 17, 2024

BTS’ rapper and main dancer Jung Hoseok, known as j-hope, announced his plans to join the military on February 26, 2023. On the fan community site and app Weverse, BTS’ company Big Hit Entertainment announced, “We would like to inform our fans that j-hope has initiated the military enlistment process by applying for the termination of his enlistment postponement.” The company also asked fans for “continued love and support” throughout his military service until it ends. Along with the military announcement, the company announced that j-hope will be releasing a single “on the street” on March 3, 2023.

On April 17, 2023, J-Hope posted a photo of himself with his buzzcut. He captioned the photo, “I love you ARMY 🫡💜 I’ll be back!” Jin, who is currently serving, commented on the post, “D-1” referring to when J-Hope is set to leave. The day before, he went on Weverse Live to tell fans goodbye before he entered military training. He assured fans, “Please don’t be too upset, since I’m doing my duty as the healthy youth. So what I wanted to tell is to you guys to not worry and I’ll go and come back well. ‘Please eat well’. Yes of course, as I told you guys, don’t worry, I’ve been eating really well.” He also read a comment, “October 17, 2024—Hobi’s discharge date, I’ll be waiting for this day only.” He replied, “October 17, right. I’ll be back safely.”

On April 18, the seven members reunited for j-hope’s military entrance ceremony. Jin, who joined the military in December, posted a picture on Instagram of the reunion with the translated caption, “nxt person.”

j-hope was the first member to release solo music after BTS announced their hiatus. He released his first album Jack In the Box in July 2022 and was the first South Korean act to headline Lollapalooza in Chicago.

j-hope returned from the military on October 17, 2024. Jin came to greet his fellow band member as he was discharged.

When is Jimin’s military discharge date?

Start date: December 12, 2023
End Date: June 11, 2025

BTS’ vocalist and dancer Park Jimin, known as Jimin, enlisted on December 12, 2023. He is scheduled to enlist together with Jung Kook. On November 21, 2023, BIGHIT Music announced that the four remaining members RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook have started the military enlistment process.

“The artists are preparing to fulfill their military service duties. We will inform you of further updates in due course,” the entertainment company posted on the fan community site Weverse. “We ask you for your continued love and support for RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook until they complete their military service and safely return. Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artists.”

In January 2023, Jimin collaborated with BIGBANG’s Taeyang on the song “Vibe.” On February 21, 2023, Jimin announced that he would be releasing his first solo album Face on March 23, 2023. He also released the album Muse while he was in his service. He’s expected to be discharged on June 11, 2025.

When did V serve in the military?

Start date: December 11, 2023
End date: June 10, 2025

BTS’ vocalist and dancer Kim Taehyung, known as V, enlisted on December 11, 2023. On November 21, 2023, BigHit Music announced that the four remaining members RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook have started the military enlistment process.

“The artists are preparing to fulfill their military service duties. We will inform you of further updates in due course,” the entertainment company posted on the fan community site Weverse. “We ask you for your continued love and support for RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook until they complete their military service and safely return. Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artists.”

V has released songs for several Korean dramas such as “It’s Definitely You” with Jin for Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth, where he also starred, “Sweet Night” for Itaewon Class and “Christmas Tree” for Our Beloved Summer. In February 2023, V starred in the cooking show Jinny’s Kitchen with Park Seojoon, Choi Wooshik, Lee Seojin, and Jeong Yumi.

He released his debut studio album Layover on September 8, 2023, with the hit singles “Love Me Again” and “Slow Dancing.” It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. He also released a single “FRI(END)S” on March 15, 2024. He released his single “FRI(END)S” in 2024 and starred in IU’s music video for “Love Wins All.” He was discharged from the military on June 10, 2025.

When is Jung Kook’s military discharge date?

Start date: December 12, 2023
End date: June 11, 2025

BTS’ vocalist, dancer, and youngest of the group, Jeon Jungkook, known as Jung Kook, enlisted on December 12, 2023. He is scheduled to enlist together with Jimin. On November 21, 2023, BigHit Music announced that the four remaining members RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook have started the military enlistment process.

“The artists are preparing to fulfill their military service duties. We will inform you of further updates in due course,” the entertainment company posted on the fan community site Weverse. “We ask you for your continued love and support for RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook until they complete their military service and safely return. Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artists.”

In July 2023, Jung Kook released “Seven” which topped the Billboard 100 chart the week it came out and additionally the song broke four Guinness World Records. He also released “3D (feat. Jack Harlow)” leading up to the release of his debut solo album Golden on November 3, 2023. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 210,200 equivalent album units earned. He’s expected to be discharged on June 11, 2025.