K-pop star and BTS member J-Hope starts mandatory military service

Author: Reuters

SEOUL, April 18 (Reuters) – J-Hope, a member of Grammy-nominated K-pop boy band BTS, began his mandatory military service in South Korea on Tuesday, the second member of the group to do so.

The singer kept a low profile as a van carrying him entered the venue for his military enlistment ceremony in the city of Wonju, some 87 kilometres (54 miles) away from Seoul, news agency Yonhap reported.

“I’ll be back later,” the singer whose real name is Jung Ho-seok said on Monday in a post on fan platform Weverse, alongside a picture of his shaved head. More than 10,000 comments from fans wished his safe return after completing his military duties.

Spokespeople for HYBE (352820.KS), which owns the band’s agency Bighit Music, declined to confirm the details of his enlistment.

J-Hope, 29, is the second member of the popular septet to enlist following Jin, the oldest, who joined the military  in December.

All able-bodied men in South Korea between the ages of 18 and 28 must serve in the military for 18 to 21 months.

The military enlistment of BTS members has drawn attention from not just fans but also politicians in South Korea. Some lawmakers floated the idea of granting the hit group an exemption from mandatory military service to allow them to continue to perform instead.

Share
Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

  • Fashion

‘Collectibles’ by Sonraj hosts star-studded event to celebrate OMEGA’s legacy of precision and luxury

Karachi, 23 December 2024 – Sonraj hosted a star-studded event to celebrate legacy of OMEGA,…

16 hours ago
  • Op-Ed

Pakistan’s health system faces mounting challenges

Pakistan’s healthcare system is grappling with persistent challenges, leaving millions of citizens without adequate access…

18 hours ago
  • Top Stories

ICJ weighs States’ responsibility for climate change, ‘future of our planet’

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) held historic hearings from December 2 to 13 addressing…

18 hours ago
  • Pakistan

New undersea cable set to ‘enhance’ Pakistan’s internet speed

A new undersea internet cable is being installed, promising to significantly enhance internet speed and…

19 hours ago
  • Editorial

Becoming Footnotes

Until a few months ago, we were worried about being conveniently left out of a…

20 hours ago
  • Cartoons

TODAY’S CARTOON

20 hours ago