BTS' J-hope to reportedly begin military service on April 18
Looks like the time has come for BTS member J-hope to finally enter the military.
According to South Korean news outlet News1, the BTS rapper and lead dancer is set to begin his mandatory service in the country's armed forces on Tuesday, April 18.
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.
Shortly after the news began circulating, BTS' record label, BigHit Music, released a brief statement neither confirming nor denying the report.
"We aren’t able to share the specific date and location of J-hope’s military enlistment at this time. We appreciate your understanding," the agency said.
Earlier this month, BigHit Music confirmed that J-hope is enlisting in the military and asked fans to refrain from visiting the base on the day of his enlistment for safety reasons.
"Please note that there will be no official event on the day of his entry," BigHit Music posted through social media platform Weverse. "The entrance ceremony is a time to be observed by military personnel and their families only. To prevent any issues that might occur from crowding, fans are advised to refrain from visiting the site. Instead, we ask you to keep your heartwarming words of support and farewell in your hearts."
Prior to the recent reports on his enlistment date, J-hope took to WeVerse to clarify previous rumors that he is enlisting this week. The rapper additionally assured ARMYs that he will be doing a live stream before he heads to his base.
“Everyone, I’m not going tomorrow," J-hope wrote on April 12. "I’ll come to see you this week through live streaming. My ARMYs, don’t have a hard time. Love you, ARMYs."
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.
His enlistment comes four months after BTS' oldest member, Jin, entered the military on Dec. 13, 2022.