The world’s biggest boy band BTS will be abandoning their fandom “army” to join the South Korean military for national service.
The confirmation ends years of debate over whether the K-pop stars might be exempted from military duties.
In South Korea, all able-bodied men aged 18-28 must serve about two years.
The seven BTS members had been allowed to put off starting their military service until they turned 30. The oldest, Jin, is currently 29.
The band’s management revealed on Monday that he will begin preparations next month. It said all seven members of the group – the youngest of whom is 24 – also plan on following through with their service.
South Korea retains compulsory military service mainly because the country is still technically at war with its nuclear-armed neighbour, North Korea.
