Jimin and Jungkook of BTS completed their military service and were officially discharged on June 11th after serving for a year and six months. They enlisted as active-duty soldiers in the South Korean Army on December 12th, 2023, and served in the Artillery Brigade of the 5th Infantry Division.
After completing the discharge procedures inside their base, the two moved without a formal ceremony to Yeoncheon Public Stadium in Gyeonggi Province, where they greeted the press and fans.
Many fans gathered at the site from early in the morning to celebrate their return. The crowd welcomed them with loud cheers when the two appeared holding large flower bouquets.
Though slightly awkward and amazed to be back in front of cameras, Jimin and Jungkook shouted a confident “unity!” as part of their discharge salute.
Jungkook spoke first, saying, “Thank you for coming to greet us. We’ve been discharged, and I’m grateful to be welcomed like this. It’s been so long since I stood before a camera. I’m a little embarrassed since I’m not even wearing makeup. I’m not sure what to say,” he said with a laugh.
Jimin added, “Thank you so much for coming from far away to see us, and to all the fans who are here today. I really appreciate it. Starting from the COVID-pandemic all the way through our military service, it’s been a long wait. Thank you so much for waiting for us.”
He continued, “Now that we’re discharged, I think we can start painting the picture we’ve always imagined again. We’ll prepare even better things and show you great performances.”
Jungkook also said, “To the seniors who were discharged before us, the younger soldiers still serving, the friends who finished a bit earlier, and the officers who went through it all with us—thank you for everything. We’re truly grateful for your support.”
Regarding military life, Jimin shared, “It was my first time in the military, and honestly, it wasn’t easy. Military life is tough and challenging, but we built strong bonds through shared experiences like eating and enduring hardships together.”
The two wrapped up by saying, “We’ll hold onto these precious memories in our hearts for a long time. A lot has happened, and we’ll gradually share those stories with you.”
Finally, Jimin made a heartfelt request: “If I may say this to the public—having now served in the military, I can say it’s not an easy place. There are many people enduring hardships there. If you happen to see a soldier while walking down the street, even just a small, warm word would mean the world to them.”
>> BTS’s V and RM Announce Their Military Discharge With Big Smiles
Meanwhile, RM and V were discharged the day before, with Suga still completing his alternative service, all BTS members have now finished their mandatory military duties and returned to their fans.
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