LOOK: BTS' J-hope enters the military as an active duty soldier
BTS rapper and lead dancer J-hope has officially entered the military to serve as an active-duty soldier.
The news was announced by the K-pop supergroup on Tuesday, April 18, with photos of members RM, Jin, Suga, Jimin, V, and Jungkook reuniting to bid farewell to J-hope. "I love you J-hope," BTS tweeted in Korean, along with a purple heart.
While BTS' record label, BigHit Music, has been hush-hush about J-hope's enlistment, South Korean news outlet News1 reported last April 13 that the musician is set to begin his mandatory service in the country's armed forces today.
He will reportedly enlist in the New Recruit Training Center Division A in Gangwon-do where he will undergo a five-week basic training. After which, the 29-year-old K-pop idol will be assigned to his permanent post.
J-hope is the second member to enter the military, following the group's oldest member, Jin, who began his service in December last year.
In December 2020, the South Korean National Assembly amended its Military Service Act to allow BTS to postpone their military service until they reach the age of 30.
On Feb. 26 of this year, two days ahead of J-hope's 29th birthday, BigHit Music announced that the BTS member withdrew his application to delay his service.
Prior to his enlistment, J-hope released his first solo album, Jack in the Box, on June 15, 2022. Eight months later, on Feb. 17 of this year, Disney premiered the documentary film J-hope in the Box on Disney+, which chronicles the BTS member's 200-day journey as a solo artist.
In the same month, Louis Vuitton introduced J-hope as its new South Korean ambassador following stars like Jackson Wang, Bradley Cooper, and Tahar Rahim. J-hope's latest release is his solo track On the Street featuring American record producer J.Cole.
The K-pop idol is expected to finish his military training by October 2024.