Jin from BTS shared a video message saying that he will “be back soon” after recently enlisting in the military.
Last month, the 30-year-old became the first boy band member to begin his military service after entering a boot camp in Yongchon, South Korea. According to the laws of South Korea, all able-bodied male citizens must serve a military term of 18 to 21 months.
In the message he took off before going to basic training, and which you can watch below, Jin said: “Hi everyone, this is Jin from BTS. By the time the video is released, I will no longer be a civilian. But I’m here in front of the camera because I wanted to leave you something, even if it’s just a message.
“Whenever I’m free, I want to leave these videos and recordings every few months to share with you as much as possible, even if it’s just a quick check,” he added. “I may not be with you at this very moment, but I’m going to look for you soon, so if you wait a bit. I’ll be back soon. That’s all for today. Next time I get the chance, I’ll come back with another video.”
In the weeks before Jin’s enlistment, both idol and his agency asked fans several times to refrain from attending the boot camp during his army enlistment ceremony. “Please note that we will not hold any official events on the day of his conscription,” the agency said, adding that the event “is a time when only servicemen and their family members can observe it.”
However, the police in Yongchon prepared for Jin’s arrival at the military base by blocking several roads and sending an ambulance to the site in case of overcrowding.
Men are usually required to enlist at the age of 28, although the Order of Cultural Merit awarded to BTS by former President Moon Jae-in in 2018 allows seven boy band members to enlist at the age of 30.
Prior to his call-up, Jin made his solo debut with his single “The Astronaut”, which he wrote in collaboration with Coldplay. The track was among several solo releases by BTS members this year, which also include J-Hope and RM’s respective debut studio recordings “Jack in The Box” and “Indigo”.
