Members of the South Korean pop supergroup BTS are planning to undertake military service, which is mandatory under the country’s law.

The South Korean military had signaled that it wanted to conscript BTS for mandatory service, the group’s record label BigHit Music confirmed on Monday.

BTS members will be able to serve in the army for 18 months by the time they reconvene as a group around 2025, the label said in a statement.

Jin, the oldest among the seven members of BTS, will be the first to serve, beginning at the end of the month. He turns 30 in December.

As per a law passed by the parliament in 2020, pop stars, athletes, and others who enhance the country’s prestige, can defer their service until the age of 30, but BTS does not intend to seek any further delays or special exemptions, according to their label.

“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. Other members of the group plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans,” BigHit Music said.

In June, BTS members – Jin, RM, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin, V and Jungkook – announced a break from group musical activities to pursue solo projects.

(Photo: BIGHIT)

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