BTS Members to Undertake Military Service in South Korea, With Jin Set to Be

SEOUL—The eldest member of the South Korean boy band BTS will be conscripted for the country’s mandatory military service later this year, ending a debate over whether the singers’ cultural achievements should merit an exemption.

The 29-year-old Kim Seok-jin—who goes by the stage name “Jin” to fans—had until his December birthday to begin his mandatory military service of 18 months. His start date had already been pushed back two years, following an amendment to South Korea’s conscription law in 2020 designed with the BTS group in mind.