Buckle up, ARMY! After an 18-month escapade in the land of camo and combat boots, Jin, the senior citizen of BTS, has wrapped up his mandatory military service. Yep, the 31-year-old trailblazer of the beloved Bangtan Boys has returned from his stint in the army after signing up in December 2022.
Big Hit Music, the overlords of BTS, made the grand announcement via Weverse, essentially saying, “Jin’s about to bust out of boot camp!” But hold your purple balloons – there won’t be any fanfare or confetti cannons at his discharge. The agency practically begged fans not to swarm the military site like seagulls on a dropped french fry to avoid a crowd catastrophe.
“Attention! Discharge day is strictly a military shindig. No parades, no parties. Just send your warm fuzzies from afar,” they declared. “Keep your excitement in your hearts and off the base.”
Korean media couldn’t resist the Jin-fever, with Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) rolling out the red carpet for a live broadcast. Viewers were treated to the heartwarming sight of Jin hugging his comrades and doing the epic slow-motion walk of freedom on June 12, local time. Cameras captured his majestic salute and his pose like a K-Pop rockstar (because, duh, he is one).
Almost the entire BTS squad, RM, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, who are all currently playing soldier, were there to welcome him back. The grandmaster of BTS, RM, even busted out a saxophone solo of their smash hit “Dynamite” to set the celebratory mood. Jazz hands, anyone?
Back in January, Jin had teased his comeback in a video message, saying, “Hang tight, you’ll see me rocking the buzz cut soon. I’ll be sprouting my luscious locks in no time and back to the grindstone.” This little nugget of wisdom was like a warm hug for fans who missed his face.
Before swapping his mic for a rifle, Jin dropped a solo gem titled “The Astronaut.” His departure was the kickoff for the BTS military marathon as the boys decided to tackle their duties together. Big Hit Music called it the “prime time” and said the members were psyched to serve their country.
With Jin back in civilian mode, the BTS ARMY is now ticking off the days until the rest of the gang gets their discharge papers. J-Hope joined the army party in April 2023, followed by Suga in September 2023. V and RM hopped in the boot camp express in December 2023, with Jungkook and Jimin tagging along later that month.
The full BTS reunion is slated for 2025, when they’ll presumably storm the stage again, armed with fresh beats and even fresher haircuts. Until then, ARMY, keep those countdowns going and get ready for the epic BTS comeback tour!
