Entertainment
BTS fans ignore pleas to stay away from camp as Jin begins mandatory military service in South Korea-Rachael O'Connor-Entertainment – Metro
Jin and BTS’ management team had made repeated pleas for fans to stay away due to overcrowding fears.
BTS star Jin has begun his mandatory military servive in South Korea (Picture: AP/Werverse)
BTS fans ignored warnings to stay away from the South Korea army camp as pop star Jin enlists for mandatory military service.
The 30-year-old has found global success through boy band BTS, which made history in 2019 as they became the first Korean band to perform at Wembley Stadium.
But despite the phenomenal international success of BTS, all seven members of the band will have to undergo military training, which is mandatory in their home country of South Korea.
All able-bodied men in South Korea are required to perform between 18 and 21 months of military service after their 18th birthday and by 28 at the latest.
In 2020, South Korea’s parliament passed a bill to allow its K-pop stars to delay their national service until the age of 30 – which Jin, the eldest BTS member, turned on December 4.
BTS is currently on hiatus to allow each of its members to fulfil their military service, leaving fans heartbroken.
The musician recently turned 30 and so must now fulfil over a year of military service (Picture: WireImage)
Soldiers were seen outside the military camp as new enlistments arrived to begin their service (Picture: AFP)
Jin arrived in a convoy of vehicles to the camp close to the border between South and North Korea Reuters)
On Tuesday, Jin arrived via motorcade to the military camp in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, hours after showcasing his newly-shorn hair on social media.
And despite repeated pleas by Jin and BTS’ management agency Hybe for fans to stay away over fears of overcrowding, people were spotted standing outside the area holding photos and signs relating to the band.
Two fans were photographed holding up postcards as they awaited the arrival of Jin, one bearing the words: ‘BTS forever.’
Others were spotted singing and dancing to BTS tracks outside the camp, or holding up larger posters of Jin’s face.
Some fans ignored repeated pleas to stay away from the area on the day Jin was enlisting (Picture: Reuters)
People were spotted performing BTS tracks as they awaited the pop star’s arrival (Picture: AP)
K-pop fans were seen holding signs and posters bearing reference to BTS and its members (Picture: Reuters)
Press also flocked to the camp despite warnings it could be unsafe with overcrowding (Picture: AP)
Press were also on hand to capture Jin’s appearance at the military camp, with a motorcade of sleek black cars signifying the megastar had arrived.
The cars drove into the camp, where citizens are not allowed, as police officers and soldiers stood guard outside.
The army camp is close to the demilitarised zone of South Korea, marking the border between it and North Korea.
This week, management team Hybe begged fans to stay away from the area on the day Kin was to start his service, insisting there would be ‘no separate special event’ at all to mark the occasion and confirming that Jin will ‘enter the grounds of the recruit training centre while in a vehicle without greeting the media or fans separately’.
Jin arrived in a convoy of sleek black cars as BTS confirmed their hiatus will last until 2025 (Picture: EPA)
Police and soldiers were seen guarding the entrance to the camp (Picture: Reuters)
Jin sported a buzzcut as he prepared to enlist in the military (Picture: AP/Werverse)
In a statement via Soompi, they also urged media to keep their distance as ‘the site is expected to be very crowded with enlisting soldiers, family members, and some fans. We ask the media to please refrain from visiting the site.’
According to the management company’s notice to financial regulators, Suga, 29, RM and J-Hope, both 28, Jimin and V, both 26, and Jungkook, 25, will follow suit and serve over the next few years.
Exemptions have been made in the past for prize-winning athletes, dancers and classical musicians who have been seen as boosting the country’s profile internationally.
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The group has announced a Disney docuseries that will premiere next year while BTS’ hiatus is ongoing, ensuring there’ll still be content around the group for fans.
BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star will showcase ‘the daily lives, thoughts and plans’ of the group’s members ‘as they prepare for their second chapter,’ following the news earlier this year that the band were taking a break (sort of) to focus on solo projects.
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