'Even the sky is crying': BTS ARMY reacts as J-Hope joins mandatory military service

J-Hope, the second member of the popular South Korean music group BTS, on late Monday night bid adieu to several fans across the globe hours before he enlisted for his mandatory military duty. The 29-year-old took to the fan community forum Weverse to share his message for ARMY, the fan group of BTS.

"I love you ARMY. Will be back safely!" he captioned his picture in Korean, showing off his military haircut. As soon as his post went viral, BTS ARMY started reacting to it. One of the fans wrote, “it's raining so hard in korea rn, even the sky is crying because hobi is leaving. WE LOVE YOU J-HOPE  WE WILL WAIT FOR YOU J-HOPE #UntilWeMeetAgainJHOPE #HaveASafeFlightOurHOPE #JHOPE #HOSEOK.”

it's raining so hard in korea rn, even the sky is crying because hobi is leaving :((

WE LOVE YOU J-HOPE
WE WILL WAIT FOR YOU J-HOPE #UntilWeMeetAgainJHOPE #HaveASafeFlightOurHOPE#JHOPE #HOSEOK #Hobi #BTSARMY pic.twitter.com/PBB1Enz3FI

— hourlyApril 18, 2023

i will always wait for you out sunshine, hobi! please be safe out there! 

WE LOVE YOU J-HOPE
WE WILL WAIT FOR YOU HOBI
WE WILL WAIT FOR YOU J-HOPE #UntilWeMeetAgainJHOPE #HaveASafeFlightOurHOPE#JHOPE #HOSEOK pic.twitter.com/DqGsudPPHU

— treasure, i love you! (@dvrstun) April 18, 2023

WE LOVE YOU J-HOPE
WE WILL WAIT FOR YOU HOBI
WE WILL WAIT FOR YOU J-HOPE #UntilWeMeetAgainJHOPE #HaveASafeFlightOurHOPE#JHOPE #HOSEOK pic.twitter.com/VGGPD0UjhX

— (@pbangtanland) April 18, 2023

I really want to cry right now 
Hobi, it's your turn to trust us #제이홉_이젠우릴믿을차례
INTO THE FUTURE WITH J-HOPE #언제나여기서_희망을_기다릴게
WE ARE HERE FOR JHOPE #UntilWeMeetAgainOurHOPE https://t.co/ToUTqshden

— peta on the street_#inmyHoseokEra (@petanakama) April 18, 2023

The second one said, “hobi bus has been running in Seoul but today they changed their route so hobi can see the message (it's your turn to trust us, j-hope) on his way to the military unit.” The third one said, “WE WILL WAIT FOR YOU J-HOPE Apobangpo.” The fourth person tweeted, “i will always wait for you out sunshine, hobi! please be safe out there!.” The fifth one said, “I really want to cry right now Hobi, it's your turn to trust us.”

For the unversed, the singer, whose real name is Jung Ho-seok, is the second BTS member to enlist for active military duty after the eldest representative Jin. In late February, BigHit Music -- the management agency of BTS -- had announced that J-Hope had started his military enlistment process.

J-Hope also shared a handwritten note on his official Instagram account. "I'll have a good trip!" he wrote in Korean. In an emotional Weverse LIVE last week, J-Hope confirmed that he will enlist on April 18.

"Love you ARMY. Let's meet in 2025," the rapper had said during the session. Jin, 30, was the first member from the Grammy-nominated boy band to enlist in the South Korean military. He began his 18 months of mandatory military service at a front-line boot camp in December.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men aged 18-28 are required to serve in the military for about two years. All BTS members had been allowed to put off starting their military service until they turned 30.

BigHit Music had earlier said other members plan to carry out their duty based on their own individual plans. The group, which debuted in 2013, is currently on a break as a unit with each of its members pursuing solo projects. (With inputs from PTI)