BTS inches closer to reunion as Jungkook, Jimin complete military service

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BTS inches closer to reunion as Jungkook, Jimin complete military service

Jaehwa Bernardo,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Jun 13, 2025 04:58 PM PHT

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(UPDATE) BTS members Jungkook and Jimin were discharged from South Korea's military on Wednesday, bringing the globally beloved K-pop group a step closer to a full reunion, with only one member left to complete his mandatory service.

Despite earlier requests from their label urging fans not to visit the army bases, the two were met with enthusiastic crowds upon their release from the military, as seen in livestreams by South Korean media.

More than a thousand fans gathered at the site of a press conference near the two army bases where singer Jimin — whose solo single "Who" holds the record for longest-running K-pop song on the Billboard Hot 100 — and singer Jungkook were discharged.

When the members started to speak, their voices were often drowned out by the deafening cheers and joyful screams from the crowd.

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"Thank you so much for waiting for us all this time," Jungkook said.

"Now that we've been discharged, I believe it's time for us to keep drawing the picture we've always envisioned. We'll make sure to prepare well and show you an even better version of ourselves."

Jimin said the military "wasn't an easy place".

"Still, I carry with me many meaningful memories, and I'll hold on to them for a long time," said the 29-year-old.

"After experiencing military life firsthand, I can say it truly isn't easy... if you happen to pass by a soldier, even a small word of kindness would mean the world to them," he added.

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Jungkook and Jimin's discharge came just a day after their bandmates RM and V finished their military service. The final member Suga, who has been working as a social service agent as an alternative to active duty, is scheduled to complete his service on June 21.

Once Suga is discharged, all seven BTS members will have completed their mandatory military service. 

Jin and J-Hope finished their conscription in 2024 and have since been mostly focused on solo promotions, including tours.



Talks of a full-group comeback in 2025 or 2026 have circulated, but the band’s agency, HYBE, stated that the members "need time for reflection and preparation."

Delighted fans from around the world had gathered as early as 3 a.m., hoping to catch a glimpse of their idols.

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"I think I'm gonna cry," Anaisa Silva, 30, a hotel receptionist from Portugal, said in an Agence France-Presse (AFP) interview.

"I am an ARMY of nine years and this is the first time I'm seeing them," she said, referring to BTS's fandom by its official name.

"We couldn't sleep!" said Rosie Tanquilut, a 64-year-old fan from the Philippines.

"We've been counting the days since they entered military," she added.

All the band members signed new contracts with their agency HYBE in 2023, and once Suga is released, analysts expect profit-driving reunion activities.

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The news of the members' discharge is "extremely positive news" for the K-pop industry, Yoo Sung-man, an analyst at Leading Investment and Securities, told AFP.

"Given the long military hiatus for the full group, this upcoming comeback is expected to have a massive global impact across all fronts — music streaming, album sales, and concerts," Yoo added.

Prior to their mandatory military service, the boy band generated more than 5.5 trillion won (around P225 billion) in yearly economic impact, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute.

That accounts for roughly 0.2 percent of South Korea's total GDP, according to official data.

On Friday, the band will mark the 12th anniversary of its debut, with the HYBE headquarters in Seoul wrapped with the slogan "WE ARE BACK" and thousands of fans set to descend on the city for celebrations.

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Faces of the boy band were seen in giant billboards across Seoul, while numerous buses covered with their images welcomed the members back to civilian life.

Since their debut in 2013, BTS has gone on to top major US music charts, becoming the first all-South Korean act to reach No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and the Billboard Hot 100. 

The group's notable songs include "Boy In Luv," "I Need U" and "Spring Day," as well as all-English singles like "Dynamite," "Butter" and "Permission to Dance." 

The septet has been on a self-described hiatus since 2022 while its members separately completed their military service, which is mandatory in the South for all men under 30. — With a report from Agence France-Presse

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