K-pop superstars RM and V were discharged from South Korea’s mandatory military service on Tuesday, greeted by cheers from approximately 200 fans gathered in Chuncheon City, AP News reported.
The pair saluted formally upon release, marking the fourth and fifth members of the septet to fulfil their conscription obligations.
Reina Lorena Quintero Sevilla, who spent 18 hours flying from Mexico City, captured the global devotion:
I swear, it didn’t feel that long because we’re so excited to be here, to watch the boys get released, excited to be in South Korea, in the hometowns of our boys, who we love, who we adore.
RM and V commenced service in December 2023, joining bandmates already enlisted. Jin (discharged June 2024) and J-Hope (October 2024) preceded them. Jimin and Jung Kook follow on Wednesday, while Suga—serving as a social service agent—completes duty later this month. All seven members plan to reunite as a group in 2025.
The milestone reignites debate around South Korea’s conscription system, which requires all able-bodied men aged 18–28 to serve 18–21 months. While athletes and classical musicians receive exemptions for enhancing “national prestige,” K-pop stars remain ineligible despite BTS’s unprecedented global influence.
A 2020 Military Service Act revision allowed members to delay enlistment until age 30, though their agency confirmed in 2022 all would serve without special treatment.
Public contention over exemptions had simmered for years, but the group’s decision to enlist collectively ultimately resolved the standoff. As the final discharges unfold, anticipation builds for a historic 2025 reunion, a testament to resilience in an industry where few acts survive such extended hiatuses.
