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After much debate, BTS members will serve military duties in South Korea

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Big Hit Music, the management company for superstar K-pop band BTS, announced the band will serve their military duties as mandated by law in South Korea. The band’s oldest member, Jin, will revoke his request to delay his conscription at the end of the month and undertake the required conscription steps. Jin turns 30 in December, the age at which men can no longer delay enlistment.

“Other members of the group plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans,” Big Hit Music said in a statement posted to the company’s Twitter page. “Both the company and the members of BTS are looking to convening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment.”

According to officials at South Korea’s Military Manpower Administration, BTS members will receive five weeks of combat training before being assigned to specific units and duties. The administration stressed the singers would go under the same process as other South Korean men. In August, South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said if BTS members join the military, they would likely be allowed to continue practicing and to join back with the group for tours overseas.

For years, South Korea’s military had assigned enlisted entertainers to duties related to producing radio and TV material promoting the military. The so-called “entertainment soldier” system was retired in 2013 following complaints over fairness.

There had been much debate over whether BTS members would serve their mandatory military duties or be exempted due to their artistic accomplishments. Earlier this month, the administration said it would be “desirable” for them to do so.

Monday’s announcement comes as South Korea, as well as the United States, are boosting their military activity in the Korean Peninsula in response to escalating threats from North Korea. The North has been firing missiles regularly in recent weeks, with the most recent launches coming Friday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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THE BOY-BAND B-T-S IS TAKING A BREAK.
NOT BY CHOICE…BUT BY THE MILITARY REQUIREMENTS OF THEIR HOME NATION.
IF YOU’RE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE GROUP…
YOU’RE ACTUALLY IN THE MINORITY BECAUSE B-T-S IS BIG —
SMASHING RECORD AFTER RECORD WITH THE RECORDS THEY RELEASE.
THEY’RE THE NUMBER ONE STREAMED SINGING GROUP ON SPOTIFY.
AND ON INSTAGRAM — THEY’VE GOT MORE FOLLOWERS THAN ANY OTHER BAND.
DESPITE ALL THE POPULARITY AND WORLD-WIDE FAME…
SOUTH KOREA IS CALLING THEM HOME FOR THEIR MILITARY DUTIES.
THE COUNTRY *REQUIRES HEALTHY MEN FROM 25 TO 29 YEARS OLD TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY.
THE BAND MANAGER SAYING WE MIGHT NOT HEAR NEW MUSIC FROM THE GROUP UNTIL 20-25.
SOMETIMES THERE ARE EXEMPTIONS TO THE MANDATORY MILITARY ENLISTMENT BUT B-T-S SHUT DOWN ANY POSSIBILITIES OF SKIPPING OUT OVER THE WEEKEND…AND PERFORMED THEIR LAST SHOW.
THEIR CALL TO SERVICE COMES AMID A TIME OF HIGH TENSION.
THE U-S WORKING WITH THE SOUTH TO BUILD UP A SUSTAINABLE DEFENSE…
AGAINST A VOLATILE NORTH KOREA CONSTANTLY FIRING MISSILE TESTS —ADAMANT ABOUT THEIR POSITION AS A NUCLEAR POWER.