[Exclusive] ‘BTS Suga’ Assigned as Social Service Worker

Military Enlistment Postponed Until Next Year... "Active Duty Possible Based on Individual's Will"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Yang Nak-gyu] Among the members of the group BTS, Suga (real name Min Yoon-gi) has been assigned as a social service agent. He is the only BTS member exempted from active duty.

According to military authorities on the 13th, once the eldest BTS member Jin (real name Kim Seok-jin, 30) begins his enlistment, the remaining members are expected to enlist starting next year. Jin, born in 1992 and the oldest in BTS at age 30, had his enlistment postponed until the end of this year based on a recommendation for enlistment deferral from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism under the revised Military Service Act of 2020.

Suga was involved in a traffic accident in 2012 and was diagnosed the following year with a dislocation of the shoulder humerus. He continued to experience shoulder pain, and in 2019, an examination revealed a tear in the cartilage around his left shoulder joint (left posterior labral tear). In November of the following year, Suga underwent surgery to repair the torn labrum.

If Suga, who has postponed his enlistment until next year, enlists, it is highly likely that he will serve as a social service agent working in government offices or similar institutions. RM (Kim Nam-joon) and J-Hope (Jung Ho-seok), born in 1994, are scheduled to enlist in 2025; Jimin (Park Ji-min) and V (Kim Tae-hyung), born in 1995, in 2026; and the youngest member Jungkook (Jeon Jung-kook), born in 1997, in 2028, all as active-duty soldiers in order.

A military official stated, "Even if someone is classified as a social service agent, if they wish to serve active duty, they can do so. It will be up to the individual’s decision."

Meanwhile, Jin enlisted on the 13th at the Army 5th Division Recruit Training Center in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, and after five weeks of basic military training, he will be assigned to a frontline unit.

His agency, Big Hit Music, said, "There will be no separate official events on the day of enlistment," and requested, "To prevent safety accidents due to crowd congestion, fans are asked to refrain from visiting the site." The military also stated, "To control safety on site, local governments and related agencies will cooperate to operate a comprehensive situation room, and the fire department will have ambulances on standby in preparation for emergency patients."