K-pop idols complete mandatory military service and are welcomed by fans upon leaving base; find out where the first official contact with ARMYs will be
After 18 months away from the stage, RM and V are officially back to civilian life. On Monday morning (10) in South Korea, the two BTS members were discharged from mandatory military service and left the base amid applause and cameras.
The moment that ARMYs had been waiting for happened, with photos, smiles and emotion. As they left the barracks, the idols were greeted by a group of fans who, even from a distance, were present to record the end of this chapter in the careers of the K-pop stars.
In a statement, BigHit Music revealed that the first contact with fans after the military period will be in Chuncheon, a city in the north of the country. The expectation is that the return of RM and V will also represent a new cycle for the group, which is preparing to resume activities soon.
Kim Namjoon and Kim Taehyung, members of the K-pop group BTS, were discharged from mandatory military service on Monday, the 9th, in Gangwon province, South Korea.
“Thank you to the fans for waiting,” said Namjoon, rapper and leader of the group. Both served about 18 months (548 days) of military service, which is mandatory in South Korea for all men up to the age of 28.
During the discharge, Taehyung and Namjoon, whose “stage names” are V and RM, received bouquets and were attended by some fans at the discharge.
RM also took the opportunity to play the saxophone, an instrument he learned during his service.
The artists also held a live broadcast on the Weverse app. “Of course, there were difficult times during my military service, but the best part was meeting new friends,” said V. The artist also thanked his fans. “I think it’s amazing that ARMY [fan names] waited for us. We haven’t been exposed for a year and a half, and in that situation, I was very grateful that you welcomed us with open arms when I was discharged,” he said.
RM concluded with plans for the group’s comeback: “We’ve recharged our batteries since we were away, so we’ll do something fun to show you. We’ll work hard to let everyone know that we’re back.”
In addition to Taehyung and Namjoon, two other members of the group were discharged last year. Jin and J-Hope completed their mandatory military service in June and October 2024, respectively. Jungkook, Jimin and Yoongi will also be discharged in June, between the 11th and 21st. Unlike his teammates, Yoongi did not serve as a combat soldier due to a shoulder injury. He performed alternative service, with administrative or community tasks outside the military base.
