Everything You Need to Know About BTS’s Epic Comeback After Military Service

SEOUl, South Korea — It’s official! All seven members of BTS have completed their mandatory military service. Rapper Suga was the last to finish, returning on Wednesday after serving as a social service agent due to a shoulder injury. With their enlistments done, the entire group is back together.

The six other members—RM, V, Jimin, Jung Kook, Jin, and j-hope—served in the army. Earlier this month, RM, V, Jimin, and Jung Kook were also discharged, with Jin and j-hope finishing in June and October of this year, respectively. Fans are eagerly waiting for their reunion later this year.

BTS, which stands for Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Bulletproof Boy Scouts,” debuted in June 2013. The group quickly gained popularity with their first album, “2 Cool 4 Skool,” and took off to stardom with their 2016 album “Wings.” Their breakthrough hit, “DNA,” landed on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2017, marking BTS as the first Korean boy band to achieve this milestone. Their performance at the American Music Awards garnered even more global attention.

BTS is often credited with putting K-pop on the global map. In 2020, they released “Dynamite,” their first all-English single, which became a massive hit, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This achievement made BTS the first all-South Korean act to top this chart.

Today, BTS holds numerous platinum certifications from The Recording Industry Association of America. Their hits include:

• “Mic Drop” (2018)
• “Map of the Soul: 7” (2020)
• “Love Yourself: Answer” (2020)
• “Butter” (2021)
• “My Universe” with Coldplay (2021)
• “Boy With Luv” featuring Halsey (2019)

Beyond music, BTS has made significant strides in social justice. Their address to the United Nations in 2018 launched the “Love Myself” campaign with UNICEF, focusing on combating violence and promoting self-esteem among youth. In 2020, they donated $1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement, an act that resulted in their fan community, ARMY, matching the donation in just 24 hours. Their activism reached the White House in 2022, where they met with President Joe Biden to discuss anti-Asian hate crimes.

The topic of BTS and military service has sparked debate in South Korea. All able-bodied men, aged 18 to 28, are required to serve for 18-21 months. Some exemptions exist for athletes and artists, but K-pop stars do not enjoy such privileges. In 2020, the National Assembly allowed K-pop stars to postpone service until age 30. The discussion about whether BTS should be exempt garnered significant attention before their agency announced that every member would fulfill their duties.

While on break for their service, BTS members pursued solo projects. Jin released two EPs, while Suga debuted his album as Agust D. RM, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook also offered solo albums, showcasing their diverse talents while enhancing their individual careers.

As all seven members return, fans are eager to see how they will reunite. BTS continues to influence music and culture worldwide, making a lasting impact that transcends generations.

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Jimin, South Korea, Music, Pop music, General news, Asia Pacific, Arts and entertainment, Maria Sherman, World news, Halsey, World News