Suga announces military service start date, bids emotional goodbye to BTS Army
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: BTS’ star Suga, who is set to serve his mandatory military service now, has received a start date.
The announcement came from Big Hit Music which updated the information over local social media platform, Weverse.
“Suga will be beginning his required service on September 22,” the statement began.
“There will not be any official events taking place on the day he starts his service or on the day he enters the training camp. We kindly ask fans to refrain from visiting Suga at his workplace during the period of his service. Please convey your warm regards and encouragement in your hearts only,” it added.
"We ask for your continued love and support for Suga until he completes his service and returns. Our company will also strive to provide all the support he needs during this time," the post continued.
Suga addressed his BTS Army fans
On Sunday, September 17, Suga was also on the Weverse app to talk about being enlisted.
As per a fan’s translation, the talented South Korean singer feels his service time is nothing to be sad about and said to his fans that he’ll ‘see them again in 2025.'
“Hello, it’s nice to see you. It’s me, Suga. I cut my hair a bit. My hair is very short, right? I can’t get used to it too. The staff could not recognize me,” he said in the live session.
He is now the third of BTS to enter into South Korea’s mandatory military service after Jin and J-Hope.
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In August, Big Hit Music first made the announcement regarding enlistment, “We would like to inform our fans that SUGA has initiated the military enlistment process by applying for the termination of his enlistment postponement.”
It continued, “We ask you for your continued love and support for SUGA until he completes his military service and safely returns. Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artist.”
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Suga wasn't recognized by his own staff
Suga, in his live session, started by acknowledging Army. “I came to say hi after my last concert,” he said. Suga then flaunted his tattoo after a fan asked about it, as per People.
“I think I had a fun tour the last couple of months. I really don’t cry,” referring to his BTS' journey so far. “Those past 10 years went by like a film. I started crying from then.”
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In South Korea, all able-bodied men, aged between 18 and 28, need to fulfill 18-21 months of military service as per law.
The program was crafted to safe guard itself from the potential threats from neighboring nation North Korea.
BTS had previously postponed their military service until the age of 30 after changes in South Korea's Military Service Act in 2020.