A second member of Korea’s BTS – the first K-pop band nominated for a Grammy – has begun the enlistment process for mandatory military service, a management official confirmed on Monday, two months after the group’s oldest member began his service.
BTS members said last year they would join the military starting with Jin, who turned 30 and enlisted in December after postponing his service as long as permitted. All able-bodied South Korean men ages 18-28 must serve in the military for about two years.
An official at the band’s management, Big Hit Music, said on Sunday that a second member, the 29-year-old j-hope, whose real name is Jung Ho-seok, applied to end postponement of his own enlistment. In a separate statement on Monday, Big Hit also said j-hope would release a solo single titled “on the street” on Friday (March 3).
A 2019 legislative revision allowed globally acknowledged K-pop stars to delay signing until they are 30.
