BTS members Kim Taehyung, also known as V and Kim Namjoon, also known as RM, finally shared pictures and updates of their journey at the South Korean military through Instagram on Tuesday, 16 January.
According to multiple Korean news sources such as the Yonhap News Agency, RM and V were recognized as two of the six “elite” graduates of the batch who completed their 5-week basic military training as “exemplary trainees”, and they were awarded with top honors and certificates for their “exceptional” efforts.
The post came after over a month of silence from social media as at the end of 2023, RM and V took their decision to enlist in the military together and thereby began their difficult military training at the South Korean army camp.
If you are wondering what it takes to be an “elite trainee”, the Nonsan Army Training Center, where all Korean men must go to after enlisting, has listed the requirements in their guidelines as follows:
- Curl-ups: more than 86 in 2minutes.
- Push-ups: more than 72 in 2 minutes.
- Run 1.5 km within 5 minutes and 28 seconds.
- Run 3 km within 12 minutes and 30 seconds.
- Zero-point shooting 16 shots out of 20.
- no training exceptions
There are also benefits for surpassing such rigorous training which include:
- The possibility of staying out on graduation day.
- Obtaining reward leave.
- Early promotion.
On January 16, RM and V were also spotted at the military graduation ceremony and you can see them accepting their prizes in videos that have been circulating online.
뷔랑 알엠 최정예훈련병으로 뽑혀서 상받는 걸 봐서 공유합니다ㅎㅎ pic.twitter.com/1L8pJMQPEp
— 빈짱이 (@jloverbin) January 16, 2024
Why did BTS join the military?
According to the Conscription in South Korea, which has existed since 1957, male citizens between the ages of 18 and 35 are required to perform compulsory military service, while female citizens may voluntarily choose to join the military.
Although politicians and people of influence have found ways to avoid the mandatory service, the extremely popular boy band BTS, who brought forth a new cultural phenomenon and revolutionized Korean media throughout the entire world, chose to voluntarily disband and complete their service.
They promised their fans that they will be reuniting in 2025, which was confirmed by Hybe, the South Korean multinational entertainment company in charge of Bit Hit Music, through a press release on 20 September 2023.
Since then, the band members have also made their solo debuts while each one of them enlist at different times according to their age.
Big Hit announced in October 2022 that Jin, the 29-year-old lead singer of the band, has withdrawn his request for an enlistment postponement. On 13 December 2022, Jin became an active-duty soldier and now serves as an assistant instructor at the Yeoncheon army base in northern Gyeonggi province.
This was followed by Big Hit Music revealing on 26 February 2023 that J-Hope had requested the cancellation of the postponement of his military service, who subsequently joined the Korean army as an active-duty soldier on 18 April.
Yonhap reported that Suga had been declared “unfit for the regular combat duty”, and so he was instead enlisted as a social worker in the South Korean army. The precise reason for appointing Suga in a non-combat capacity remains undisclosed but the news source speculated that because of the surgery he had in 2020 to repair a torn labrum, he has been given a less physically demanding duty.
On 16 January, Ten Asia reported that Jungkook and Jimin, will be starting their military service on 18 January as part of the 5th Infantry Division, stationed in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi, the same division where Jin is currently stationed in. The duo had enlisted themselves in the army on 12 December 2023, and has since then completed their basic training.
From the army to the ARMY
Since the beginning of their new journey, the BTS members have been taking their fans along through various photos and videos, even sharing a picture of all the members together at RM and V’s enlistment near the end of 2023 which took the internet by storm.
If the pictures weren’t enough to make ARMYs happy, a lot of fans couldn’t contain their feelings when they noticed a little circle appear on RM and V’s Instagram profiles, indicating that they have shared stories on 16 January as well.
It was like a big hug for the fans, as V released snippets from his Compose Coffee commercial and RM provided updates on his other account @rpwprpwprpwp by reposting photos and sharing his current Spotify jam.
After learning about the hard work the BTS members are putting into their new chapter, fans took to X (previously Twitter) to congratulate the boys and express how proud the BTS ARMY is to see them dedicate their lives for their country.
