Suga becomes 3rd BTS member to begin military service in South Korea

South Korean famous band ‘BTS’ member Suga has become the third member of BTS to join South Korea’s compulsory military service.

Following his debut solo tour earlier this year, the K-pop superstar rapper/singer/songwriter joined the military service His agency titled ‘Big Hit Music’ said in a statement: “We would like to inform our fans that SUGA has initiated the military enlistment process by applying for the termination of his enlistment postponement.”

“We ask you for your continued love and support for SUGA until he completes his military service and safely returns. Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artist,” the agency added.

In South Korea, it is mandatory for all men all able-bodied men aged 18 to 28 by law to perform 18-21 months of military service under a conscription system meant to deter aggression from rival North Korea.

The law gives special exemptions to athletes, classical and traditional musicians, and ballet and other dancers if they have obtained top prizes in certain competitions and are assessed to have enhanced national prestige. However, K-pop stars and actors are not subject to such privileges.

In 2020, BTS who was due to begin their services postponed their joining until age 30 after South Korea’s National Assembly revised its Military Service Act , allowing K-pop stars to delay their enlistment until age 30.

Later in 2022, there was heated public debate in over whether to offer special exemptions of mandatory military service for BTS members, until the group’s management agency announced in October that all seven members would fulfill their duties. In December 2022, BTS’s eldest member, Jin, enlisted at age 30 after revoking his request to delay his conscription. J-Hope followed suit last April.

For those who are unaware, BTS is a popular South Korean boy band. The group is based of seven members named, Jungkook, RM, J-hope, Jimin, Jin, V, and Suga. The boy band was formed in 2010 and managed by BIG HIT Entertainment.

Since the creation of BTS over ten years ago, the band has risen to international success, broken records, and catapulted K-Pop into the global stratosphere.

BTS debuted in 2013 with the single album 2 Cool 4 Skool. By 2017, the band had crossed into the global music market. As of 2022, BTS is the best-selling artist in South Korean history according to the Circle Chart, having sold in excess of 30 million albums.