All BTS Members to Finish Military Service by Next Month, Full Group Comeback Ahead
BTS Set for Full Group Return After Military Service
In a significant moment for fans worldwide, all seven members of BTS are on track to complete their required military service by next month, signaling an eagerly awaited reunion with their devoted fanbase, known as ARMY.
The news has stirred excitement not just within the K-pop community, but across the global music landscape. Fans and industry experts are abuzz with speculation about when the group will officially regroup and what fresh sounds and themes they’ll introduce in this next chapter.
Jin and J-Hope have already completed their service, while RM and V will finish on June 10. Jungkook and Jimin are set to follow shortly on June 11, with Suga concluding his service on June 21.
While BTS has been on hiatus, the members have remained engaged with their audience by releasing solo music projects. Jimin’s track “Who,” dropped during his enlistment, impressively stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 for 33 weeks, making history in the K-pop genre. Similarly, RM’s “LOST!” has earned accolades at various international awards, including the Shark Music Video Awards.
BTS’s most recent group album, released in 2022, was the anthology titled Proof, and their last performance as a full group took place at the Yet to Come in Busan concert in October 2022.
According to HYBE, the organization behind BTS, plans for the group’s return to collaborative activities and performances are already in the pipeline, pending the completion of military service for all members. However, many analysts believe it might take time for the group to come back immediately after their discharge. The production of music and performances that live up to fan expectations needs careful planning.
TRENDINGDuring a March shareholders’ meeting, HYBE CEO Park Jiwon reassured that the company is working with leading songwriters while the group contemplates their future direction. He highlighted that the reuniting process—covering everything from songwriting to recording and touring—tails into a meticulous schedule, especially for a group of BTS’s caliber.
Given the requisite time for preparation post-discharge, a full-group comeback is anticipated sometime between late this year and the first half of 2025. Notably, Jin will kick off a solo fan concert tour next month, covering locations in South Korea, Japan, the U.S., the U.K., and the Netherlands, which aligns with this timeline.
In a recent interaction with fans on Weverse, RM expressed, >“There’s a lot I want to share—through both music and words.” Jimin echoed that sentiment, stating, >“I will give you the best stage as a thank you for waiting.” While an official reunion may take some time, there’s a chance the members could make a joint appearance similar to Jin’s post-discharge reunion in 2023.
As BTS approaches this new phase in their careers—with most members now in their 30s—fans are eager for the evolved narratives they’ll create. Many recall their impactful Love Yourself series from 2017-2018, which championed self-acceptance. Analysts believe that their experiences during this time, including those apart for military duty, will enrich their music and storytelling, resulting in a more profound return.
Lee Ji-young, a researcher at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, stated, >“Having trained and achieved success individually, the members’ reunion will likely result in music and storytelling that far surpasses their previous work. Their experiences, including military service, will bring a deeper emotional resonance.”
There’s widespread belief that BTS’s return could revitalize the K-pop scene, which has faced challenges following its rapid expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic. Music data journalist Kim Jin-woo from Circle Chart noted that K-pop album sales dipped by 17.7% and digital streams by 7.6% last year compared to the previous year.
Choi Kwang-ho, from the Korea Music Content Association, remarked, >“BTS is unrivaled in performance, and even their solo projects have been hugely successful. Their return is highly anticipated and could act as the spark the K-pop industry needs to regain momentum, especially following a tough year characterized by global economic issues.”