Seoul, Oct 17 (EFE).- J-Hope, one of the members of the hugely popular South Korean band BTS, completed 18 months of mandatory military service on Thursday, becoming the second in the group to be discharged from the army, after Jin.
J-Hope was received by reporters and Jin, who gave him a bouquet of flowers, outside the main gate of the 36th Army Infantry Division boot camp in Wonju, about 90 kilometers (56 miles) southeast of Seoul.
«During my 18 months of military service, I performed duties as an instructor and marched a lot, so I saw many Wonju citizens. I want to thank the citizens who greeted and cheered for the soldiers. It was very touching,» J-Hope said, according to local news agency Yonhap.
Jin, who completed his military service in June, was the only visiting member as the others – Suga, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook – are still serving in the military.
The band is expected to reunite in 2025 once all the members have fulfilled their military duties.
J-Hope, sporting a military uniform and cap, greeted the reporters gathered outside.
The band’s management agency, BigHit Music, had asked fans not to visit the area to prevent crowds.
J-Hope, whose real name is Jung Ho-seok, was the second band member to complete his military service – mandatory in South Korea for all able-bodied men – after Jin, the oldest BTS member who joined the ranks in December 2022.
Both Jin and J-Hope are expected to focus on their solo careers until the group’s official return.
In 2022, BTS announced a hiatus until at least 2025, which its seven members have been taking advantage of to focus on solo projects and serve in the army. EFE
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