The oldest member of the K-pop group BTS, Jin is set to begin military service duty on December 13, according to a story published on Thursday in the South Korean publication Aju Business Daily.
Jin, who turns 30 on December 4, will undergo five weeks of training at the boot camp before being sent to a unit, according to the newspaper.
The South Korean Ministry of Défense and BTS’ organisation, HYBE, denied requests for confirmation of the allegation.
Jin made a suggestion that he would be moving to the “front-line” in a recent social media post. After years of ambiguity, the organisation said in October that it would begin Jin’s forced military duty. After everyone has served, the group intends to work on various projects before coming back together in 2025, according to HYBE. The military service requirement in South Korea is 18 to 21 months for all physically fit men between the ages of 18 and 28.
However, several groups—including medallists from the Olympics and Asian Games, as well as classical musicians and dancers who place first in competitions—have received exemptions or have had their terms of service cut short. BTS’s exception had been demanded by several politicians. The defence minister of South Korea has indicated that BTS might continue to play abroad while enlisting in the military.
