Seoul: Global K-pop icons RM and V, members of the mega-popular boy band BTS, were discharged from South Korea’s military service, marking a significant step toward the group’s long-anticipated reunion.
Hundreds of elated fans gathered near military bases outside Seoul to welcome the stars back to civilian life, waving banners and expressing emotional support despite prior warnings from BTS’s agency HYBE to avoid the discharge sites for safety reasons.
RM and V, who served for 18 months as part of South Korea’s mandatory military service for men under 30, were visibly moved by the reception.
“There were many difficult and painful moments. But during my service, I felt deeply how so many people are protecting the country in our place,” RM said.
V called the experience “a time to reset and rebuild both body and mind,” adding, “Now I truly want to run straight to ARMY,” referencing BTS’s global fandom.
The return of RM and V is part of a broader wave of BTS military discharges this month. Four members will have completed service by the end of this week, while SUGA, who has been serving in an alternative civilian role, is set to be discharged on June 21. Two members had finished their service in 2023.
HYBE has indicated that the group is preparing for future projects, though emphasizing the need for “reflection and preparation.” Still, signs of a comeback are growing.
Beyond their cultural influence, BTS has had a measurable economic impact. Prior to their military hiatus, the group contributed over 5.5 trillion won (approximately $4 billion) annually to South Korea’s economy, equivalent to 0.2 percent of its GDP, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute.
All seven members signed renewed contracts with HYBE in 2023, and anticipation is growing that BTS will officially reunite following SUGA’s discharge later this month.
