The Tannies, as their fandom ARMY calls them, may be having a mini-reunion, but in a different way.
Jimin and Jungkook, two members of the ‘maknae’ line from the Korean pop group BTS, are reportedly reuniting with their bandmate Jin, who will be serving as their assistant instructor for basic military training.
Still unconfirmed by BTS’s agency BigHit Music, the mentioned two artists are said to be enlisting together on December 12 and will enter the recruit training center where Jin, the eldest member of the critically and commercially acclaimed group, is serving as an assistant. After finishing their 6-week basic training, they will receive their official unit assignment.
A day before Jimin and Jungkook formally enlist, RM and V are also reported to be entering the military, based on multiple industry sources. In effect, all BTS members are now serving in the Korean Army by the end of 2023 or the beginning of next year.
In response to these reports, BigHit Music states that it is “difficult to confirm” the exact date, time, and place of the remaining four members’ enlistment due to safety reasons.
Kim Seokjin, widely known by his stage name Jin, was the first artist of the five-time Grammy-nominated group to begin his mandatory military service. He entered in December 2022, followed by J-Hope in April and Suga last September this year.
Currently, Jin and J-Hope are said to be carrying out duties as assistant instructors in the Recruit Training Corps under different divisions. Meanwhile, Suga is performing his service as a social welfare worker.
In his present stint as a drill sergeant and trainer, Jin also met with Korean boy group WINNER’s Kang Seungyoon who entered the recruit training camp where the BTS’s vocalist is in July.
On Friday, November 22, the group’s agency BigHit Music announced that the group’s maknae line alongside leader RM is now beginning to undertake steps to fulfill their national service obligations.
It is said that the four artists will be completing their required service by July 2025, BTS has promised its fans a full unit return. The group had already fully expressed and showed their determination numerous times to eventually resume activities as a whole group by 2025. Also, they recently renewed their contract with their agency earlier in September.
Although the group can defer their enlistment until aged 30 after receiving the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism’s recommendation which was backed up by the amended Military Service Act, the BTS’ members have already canceled this postponement and officially announced their intention to fulfill military enlistment back in 2022.
Hence, they opened “Chapter 2” of the group’s journey where each of the members triumphantly launched their solo releases and activities which showcased their individuality and their distinct sounds, led the worldwide music charts, broke records, and received multiple awards.
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