Will BTS carry out military service together in 2022? Big Hit Music reacts

In December 2020, South Korea's parliament passed a bill to allow K-pop artists such as BTS to postpone their mandatory military service to age 30. All able-bodied South Korean men aged between 18 and 28 must serve in the military for about two years as part of the country's efforts to guard against North Korea. The amendment to the Military Service Act was designed to provide exceptions for K-pop megastars who improve the country's cultural status and boost the economy.

Now as per the latest reports in Soompi, Leading Investment & Securites' report published on April 21, 2021, suggests that all the seven members of the BTS band will be carrying out their mandatory military service together at once.

Talking about the same, research analyst Yoo Sung Man stated, "It is predicted that the BTS members will enlist in the military simultaneously before mid-2022. Considering the effect of the content that will be pre-produced ahead of their enlistments, the actual period of inactivity will be around one year."

The Korean portal also revealed that a source from Big Hit Music told Xportsnews about the above report. They said, "We have nothing to tell you besides what the artists have shared."

No K-pop stars had received exemptions but the new bill will ensure entertainers recommended by the culture minister can defer their service to age 30. The oldest member of BTS, 27-year-old Jin, is nearing enlistment at a time when the seven-member boy band is rewriting K-pop history.

(With inputs from Reuters)