Goodbye, goodbye. You were bigger than the whole sky, BTS.
We’re being overdramatic but can you blame us? The day that ARMY has been dreading-slash-reluctantly-anticipating has arrived. BTS’ unofficial expanded maknae line consisting of RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook have started undergoing their military enlistment process—all at the same time.
Rarely do several members of the same K-pop group simultaneously go through enlistment. But BTS isn’t exactly the type of group to follow rules of conventions and the members have been hinting at wanting to carry out their services together even before Big Hit Music confirmed the plan in 2022.
Yet, the latest announcement from Big Hit Music still caught fans off guard. “We would like to inform our fans that RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook have initiated the military enlistment process,” the company stated in a notice published on Weverse earlier today, Nov. 22.
“The artists are preparing to fulfill their military service duties. We will inform you of further updates in due course.”
제이홉 사랑해💜 pic.twitter.com/vEJ6hGehnQ
— 방탄소년단 (@BTS_twt) April 18, 2023
Their co-members Jin, J-Hope, and Suga have already undertaken their mandatory services—with Suga carrying it out as a social service agent. With each service spanning a period of at least 18 months, BTS is expected to reunite and resume group activities sometime in 2025.
Before BTS, ONF shocked their fans when all five of its Korean members decided to enlist in December 2021. If their fandom FUSE survived the wait, so can ARMY.
Time will surely fly by, especially with the members’ upcoming music and other content releases there to keep fans company. No time to be down in the dumps when RM has an upcoming album up his sleeve.
Art by Ella Lambio
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