Image source: Getty / Han Myung-Gu / GC Images
It’s an emotional day for BTS and their ARMY as the oldest member of the group, Jin, was officially drafted into the Korean military on December 13th.
Before Jin reported for duty, Big Hit announced he would be quietly enrolling and attending one on December 5th Weverse statement that the label “would not hold any official event on the day of his enlistment” and emphasized that the “entry ceremony is a time that can only be observed by military personnel and their families”. Because of this, Big Hit urged fans and members of the general public not to “visit the site” and cautioned against those who would attempt to profit from Jin’s enlistment through unauthorized area tours and product packages. Big Hit asked ARMY to keep her “heartwarming words of support and farewell in your hearts.”
The fans have been immensely supportive of her request. In a video translated by a Twitter user @syubjim, reporters at the scene were heard amazed that fans didn’t flock to say goodbye to Jin. “The fans are really not coming?” one man asked, to which the other replied, “Well, he told them not to come… BTS fans are better at keeping order than people think, even at the airport.”
Fans have kept their love and support on social media, where on December 11, Jin shared a photo of his freshly shaved head with the playful caption, “Sweeter than I thought.” Vice versa. Then, on December 12, Jin posted again on Weverse, writing: “Now it’s curtain time. (I was going to say that when I joined the army.) (Game character Jin’s lineage.)” Fans were heartened knowing that Jin’s humor is as strong as ever at this time.
On December 13, BTS got together to say goodbye to Jin and shared a photo of the seven casually dressed members huddled around Jin. In a second photo, members playfully gathered around him, holding his shaved head. With masks covering their mouths, they all appeared to be in good spirits based on their eye smiles. The post’s caption reads, according to a translation of “Our Hyung!! Go and come back safely!! 💜 I love you 💜”. @BTStranslation_.
우리형 !! 잘다녀와요!! 💜러뷰💜 pic.twitter.com/ZP6yryv2qe
— 방탄소년단 (@BTS_twt) December 13, 2022
This moment is emotional for fans as it marks the last real time OT7 moment they will see for quite a while.
All able-bodied males between the ages of 18 and 28 must serve in the South Korean military for about two years. The band was 2020 granted a deferralhowever, this allowed them to defer their ministry until the age of 30. On October 17, Big Hit announced that all seven members of the group would take turns in serving in the military, ending years of speculation about whether BTS would need to enlist in the military as the Korean government weighed possible alternative options to traditional service for the global superstars ( was an official decision to do so probably at the end of 2022).