147 october 2024 : K-pop star J-Hope, a member of the supergroup BTS, was discharged from South Korea’s military on Thursday after completing 18 months of service, igniting excitement among fans and investors for a potential reunion of the boy band next year. At 30, he is the second member of the seven-member group to finish his mandatory national service, following the oldest member, Jin, who completed his service in June.
Dressed in uniform and a black beret, J-Hope greeted Jin, around 100 enthusiastic fans, and reporters upon his release at a military base in Wonju, Gangwon Province.
“Thanks to the fans, I was able to complete my service safely and in good health,” he expressed to those present. He also remarked, “Over the past year and a half, I’ve seen many soldiers working hard and dedicating themselves to protect the country,” asking for continued interest and support for those serving in the military.
Shares of HYBE, the label representing BTS, rose by 7% in early afternoon trading, contrasting with a flat overall market.
The remaining four members of BTS began their service in December 2023, with the group anticipated to reunite in 2025 after all have fulfilled their military obligations.
“I’m really hoping to see all the BTS members together again,” said Constanza Godoy, a 33-year-old fan from Chile who attended J-Hope’s military discharge. “I think that after this short separation, they will be even closer and will bring more stories to their songs and lyrics,” she added.
BTS ranks 41st among the best-selling artists of all time, according to chartmasters.org, with The Beatles leading the list. Since their debut in 2013, they have sold over 56 million physical albums and singles, and achieved six No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, as reported by chartmasters.org and Billboard.
In South Korea, all able-bodied men aged 18 to 28 are required to serve between 18 and 21 months in the military or complete social service. However, the law was revised in 2020 to allow internationally recognized K-pop stars to postpone their enlistment until the age of 30.
