Last BTS member out of South Korea's military
K-pop group BTS member Suga has been discharged from the South Korean military, the seventh and final member to complete the country's mandatory national service amid expectations of the band's comeback.
Suga finished his military tenure as a social service agent on Saturday with little fanfare as fans looked forward to his reunion with the rest of the band, a K-pop sensation since it started up in 2013.
"We confirm that Suga effectively completed his alternative service on June 18 by using his remaining leave. His official discharge date is June 21," BTS' label, Big Hit Music, said in a statement.
Unlike with his BTS bandmates, there was no public event planned to mark Suga's release because of overcrowding concerns.
The seven members of the group put their global music careers on hold in 2022 to begin their military service, starting with Jin in December that year. South Korea's mandatory national service can be for terms of up to 18 months.
Shortly after his official discharge, Suga posted a message on fan community platform Weverse, saying he was "sorry for the disappointment and concern caused by what happened last year", and also apologising to his bandmates.
Last year, Suga was fined 15 million won by a court for drunk driving while on an electric scooter.
The group is expected to hold its largest-ever world tour in 2026, an NH Securities entertainment analyst said in a report.
Entertainment group HYBE, which manages BTS, is closely monitored by securities companies.
K-pop group BTS member Suga has been discharged from the South Korean military, the seventh and final member to complete the country's mandatory national service amid expectations of the band's comeback.
Suga finished his military tenure as a social service agent on Saturday with little fanfare as fans looked forward to his reunion with the rest of the band, a K-pop sensation since it started up in 2013.
"We confirm that Suga effectively completed his alternative service on June 18 by using his remaining leave. His official discharge date is June 21," BTS' label, Big Hit Music, said in a statement.
Unlike with his BTS bandmates, there was no public event planned to mark Suga's release because of overcrowding concerns.
The seven members of the group put their global music careers on hold in 2022 to begin their military service, starting with Jin in December that year. South Korea's mandatory national service can be for terms of up to 18 months.
Shortly after his official discharge, Suga posted a message on fan community platform Weverse, saying he was "sorry for the disappointment and concern caused by what happened last year", and also apologising to his bandmates.
Last year, Suga was fined 15 million won by a court for drunk driving while on an electric scooter.
The group is expected to hold its largest-ever world tour in 2026, an NH Securities entertainment analyst said in a report.
Entertainment group HYBE, which manages BTS, is closely monitored by securities companies.
K-pop group BTS member Suga has been discharged from the South Korean military, the seventh and final member to complete the country's mandatory national service amid expectations of the band's comeback.
Suga finished his military tenure as a social service agent on Saturday with little fanfare as fans looked forward to his reunion with the rest of the band, a K-pop sensation since it started up in 2013.
"We confirm that Suga effectively completed his alternative service on June 18 by using his remaining leave. His official discharge date is June 21," BTS' label, Big Hit Music, said in a statement.
Unlike with his BTS bandmates, there was no public event planned to mark Suga's release because of overcrowding concerns.
The seven members of the group put their global music careers on hold in 2022 to begin their military service, starting with Jin in December that year. South Korea's mandatory national service can be for terms of up to 18 months.
Shortly after his official discharge, Suga posted a message on fan community platform Weverse, saying he was "sorry for the disappointment and concern caused by what happened last year", and also apologising to his bandmates.
Last year, Suga was fined 15 million won by a court for drunk driving while on an electric scooter.
The group is expected to hold its largest-ever world tour in 2026, an NH Securities entertainment analyst said in a report.
Entertainment group HYBE, which manages BTS, is closely monitored by securities companies.
K-pop group BTS member Suga has been discharged from the South Korean military, the seventh and final member to complete the country's mandatory national service amid expectations of the band's comeback.
Suga finished his military tenure as a social service agent on Saturday with little fanfare as fans looked forward to his reunion with the rest of the band, a K-pop sensation since it started up in 2013.
"We confirm that Suga effectively completed his alternative service on June 18 by using his remaining leave. His official discharge date is June 21," BTS' label, Big Hit Music, said in a statement.
Unlike with his BTS bandmates, there was no public event planned to mark Suga's release because of overcrowding concerns.
The seven members of the group put their global music careers on hold in 2022 to begin their military service, starting with Jin in December that year. South Korea's mandatory national service can be for terms of up to 18 months.
Shortly after his official discharge, Suga posted a message on fan community platform Weverse, saying he was "sorry for the disappointment and concern caused by what happened last year", and also apologising to his bandmates.
Last year, Suga was fined 15 million won by a court for drunk driving while on an electric scooter.
The group is expected to hold its largest-ever world tour in 2026, an NH Securities entertainment analyst said in a report.
Entertainment group HYBE, which manages BTS, is closely monitored by securities companies.
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'People like a happy ending,' he said. 'I'm like that too. But some stories, by nature, can't have one.' Though Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) has gone on a hero's journey from a scrappy hustler to crusader for collective good, he never really stood a chance bringing down the system itself – which has always been the real focus of Dong-hyuk's dystopic series. I think he'll go out in tragic fashion, entrusting his fate to the final players to prove a point or, if he's foolish enough, the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) he thinks may be capable of change. Some fans are convinced the Front Man will end the games to protect expecting player Kim Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri), as she reminds him of his wife who died while pregnant... 'Player 456. Do you still have faith in people?' the Front Man asks ominously in the season three trailer. Anyone paying attention should bet their bread on disappointment. Karl Quinn, culture reporter: In an ideal world, I'd love to see the young police detective Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) and the North Korean infiltrator Kang No-eul (Park Gyuyoung) team up with Player 456, Gi-hun, to topple the Front Man and bring the game to an end forever. But while that would be momentarily satisfying as a viewer, it's hard to see how it would land as anything other than a bit of wishful thinking and a betrayal of the bleak vision that has guided Hwang Dong-hyuk's critique of late-stage capitalism from the outset. It's the system that's at fault in Squid Game, not just some corrupt individuals within it (though the VIPs are Vileness Itself, Personified). So really, I'm expecting Jun-ho to kill his brother, and for Gi-hun to succumb to the lure of vengeance and become the new Front Man. Who knows, though; maybe he'll use his newfound power to send the VIPs into the arena instead of the poor. I might not buy it entirely, but I'd still cheer for that. Nell Geraets, culture reporter: The writing is on the wall: Gi-hun will become the new Front Man. That's the only fitting conclusion to the series' scathing critique of capitalism, after all. But everyone probably sees that coming, so let's consider the nitty-gritty. The police detective will discover and capture the treacherous captain on their search boat. They'll force him to reveal the location of the island on which the games are set, and immediately set sail to rescue Gi-hun and finally put an end to the madness. However, once they arrive, they'll notice Gi-hun isn't there. Instead, an entirely different group of tracksuited participants are competing for their lives. It turns out Gi-hun's game is just one node in an extensive, global network of games, some of which have been occurring concurrently only a few islands away. Completely unprepared for such a discovery, the rescue team will be quickly overcome by guards and executed on the spot. With no help on its way and most of his allies slain, Gi-hun will finally succumb to the mindset of his nemesis, Front Man: if you can't beat the corrupt system, join it. The only question is, where will Gi-hun's new game be set? Gabriela Sumampow, social media journalist: A Mockingjay -style revolt from guards and players would make a relieving end for Squid Game, but the show wouldn't be a societal critique without doubling down on power and class dynamics by having Gi-hun defeated by the Front Man in some way. Plus, the ill-fated rebellion at the end of season two leaves players with no other choice but to keep playing. Perhaps Gi-hun will become the next recruiter (not one that stomps on bread, I hope) or a new mole for the Front Man as player 001. Knowing K-dramas can't resist a tear-jerker, I also fear for the characters introduced in season two: particularly former couple Jun-hee and Myung-gi (Yim Si-wan), and mother-son pair Yong-sik (Yang Dong-geun) and Geum-ja (Kang Ae-shim). It's hard to think of a scenario where both pairs walk free together, and I fear one might sacrifice themselves for the other. On the other hand, I suspect Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon) has more to hide than her impressive combat skills, and is capable of betraying an ally a la Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo) in season one. Hannah Kennelly, trainee reporter: I've grown really attached to these characters – shout out to the brilliant mother-son duo – but I'm anticipating a bittersweet conclusion with inevitable fatalities. I can foresee two possible endings. One pretty bleak theory is that a heavily pregnant Jun-hee gives birth during one of the games and her newborn is the only survivor. Or the series could end with Gi-hun succumbing to vengeance and becoming the new Front Man after defeating his predecessor in a dramatic finale. The end credit scene will show the game itself is actually international and there a multiple other dystopian arenas in other countries. Cue incoming spinoff series? Absolutely.
ABC News
6 days ago
- ABC News
All members of K-pop group BTS have now wrapped up military service
Rapper Suga from K-pop sensation BTS has been discharged from the South Korean military. He is the seventh and final member to complete the country's mandatory national service. Fans are looking forward to a reunion later this year, but no events were planned for the day of Suga's release over the weekend due to fears of overcrowding. Suga completed his military tenure as a social service agent, reportedly due to a shoulder injury. The other six members of BTS — RM, V, Jimin, Jungkook, Jin and J-Hope — served in the army. RM, V, Jimin and Jungkook were discharged earlier this month. The eldest BTS member Jin, was discharged in June last year, as was J-Hope in October. All able-bodied men in South Korea aged 18 to 28 are required by law to perform 18-21 months of military service under a conscription system meant to deter aggression from North Korea. Special exemptions are given to athletes, classical and traditional musicians, and ballet and other dancers if they've been awarded top prizes and are considered to have enhanced national prestige. K-pop stars are not exempt from military service but in 2020, the members of BTS postponed their enlistment until age 30 after South Korea's National Assembly revised its Military Service Act. There was heated public debate in 2022 over whether to offer special exemptions to members of BTS. The group tiered their enlistments, which meant members could focus on solo projects while the group was on hiatus, which they did. Suga released his debut solo album D-Day in 2023 under his moniker Agust D. Suga is also making news because, shortly after his official discharge, he apologised to fans on the platform Weverse for an incident last year in which he was fined 15 million won ($16,900) by a court for drunk driving while on an electric scooter. "I am deeply sorry," he said. "I truly regret that I have disappointed many fans and many people. "I will sincerely participate in the investigation." BTS is short for Bangtan Sonyeondan, which translates to Bulletproof Boy Scouts in English. The group debuted in June 2013 with the album 2 Cool 4 Skool but released three full-length projects before they gained momentum with their 2016 album Wings. They were the first Korean boy band to enter the Billboard Hot 100 charts, with their global breakthrough DNA in 2017. They were also the first all-South Korean music act to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2020 with the five-times platinum Dynamite, their first all-English single. They have been certified platinum many times over and have been nominated for five Grammys. Their first nomination, for Dynamite, in the best pop duo/group performance category, marked the first time a K-pop act received a Grammy nod. Fans of BTS are anticipating a reunion now that the group can work together again as a unit. ABC/Wires
