Jin, oldest member of K-pop’s BTS, finishes army service in South Korea

CNN —

Wearing a uniform and black beret, Jin, the oldest member of K-pop phenomenon BTS, was discharged from South Korea’s army on Wednesday after 18 months of duty. He is the first member of the group to wrap up the mandatory national service that put their music careers on hold.

The 31-year-old appeared emotional as he hugged his colleagues at a military base in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi province, television footage showed.

“I cried during the ceremony,” Jin said later during a livestream which racked up over 3 million views on the Weverse fandom platform.

“But it was so fun for the last year and six months. It’s such a relief I met so many good people,” he added, sending regards to his colleagues at the military base.

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South Korean media reported several other members of the septet who are currently serving in the military applied for leave to celebrate the occasion.

Among them was rapper RM, who greeted Jin with a saxophone to play the group’s hit single “Dynamite.”

Jin became the first member of the group to enlist in the military in December 2022. The final four members of the group began their service in December 2023, with the band expected to reunite in 2025 after they all complete their duty.

Fashion icons, the members of BTS wore color-coordinated Louis Vuitton suits in wool and cashmere with floral pins to the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on April 3, 2022.

Jin plans to celebrate his discharge with an event in Seoul on Thursday where he will greet fans and stage a performance. BTS’ label Hybe, which is putting on the event at the Jamsil Sports Complex, has selected 1,000