BTS oldest member Jin finishes army service, welcomed back by members
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SEOUL: (Reuters) Jin, the oldest member of K-pop phenomenon BTS, was discharged from South Korea’s army on Wednesday (June 12) after 18 months of duty, the first member of the group to wrap up mandatory national service that put their music careers on hold.

The 31-year-old, who was wearing his army uniform and a black beret, saluted and hugged his colleagues at a military base in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi province, before he walked out of the gate.

Jin was greeted by other members of the group, who applied for leave to celebrate the occasion, reported South Korean media. Among them was rapper RM, who greeted Jin with a saxophone to play the group’s hit single Dynamite.

Jin became the first member of the group to enlist in the military in December 2022. The final four members of the group began their service in December 2023, with the band expected to reunite as a whole in 2025 after completing their duties.