BTS member Suga completes South Korea's military duty
Seoul, South Korea – Suga, the last member of the K-Pop group BTS to complete his mandatory military service with the South Korean army, was discharged on Saturday, opening the way for the band's reunion.
Suga started his service in 2023. Earlier this month, BTS members Jimin and Jung Kook were also discharged from their duties.
'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.
He completed his military duty as a social service agent. Unlike other members, Suga's discharge was not celebrated with the public, amid fears of overcrowding.
What did Suga say to his fans?
After his release from the national service, Suga posted a message on fan community platform Weverse.
'Above all else, I wanted to… sincerely thank our fans who waited for me all this time,' SUGA told the group's fans – collectively known as ARMY.
He also said he was 'sorry for the disappointment and concern caused by what happened last year', extending his apology to his bandmates.
Last year, Suga was fined 15mn won (US$11,500) by a court for drunk driving while on an electric scooter.
BTS comeback long awaited
Suga's discharge fills fans with anticipation for a comeback of South Korea's most celebrated band that has been on a self-described 'hiatus' since 2022 as its members undertook the mandatory service, in place amid growing tensions with the North.
Before their 'hiatus', the megaband generated over 5.5tn won (roughly US$4bn) in yearly economic impact, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute.
BTS is expected to hold its largest-ever world tour in 2026, an NH Securities entertainment analyst said in a report.
Details of a reunion have yet to be released.
DW
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
a day ago
- Observer
Fans celebrate 'Squid Game' finale with Seoul parade
Seoul: Thousands of fans gathered in Seoul on Saturday to celebrate the final "Squid Game" season, ending a global Netflix hit that is seen as a symbol of South Korea's cultural clout. The third and final season was released on Friday, concluding the series that sees desperate people compete in deadly versions of traditional children's games for a massive cash prize. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk said he had "poured everything" into the series, which launched nearly four years ago. "So while it's sentimental to see it end," he said, "there's also a sense of relief". Fans gathered near Seoul's Gyeongbokgung Palace, led by marchers dressed in the bright pink uniforms worn by the show's mysterious masked agents. They were followed by others carrying oversized toys from one of the games featured in the series, along with the show's flag. Park Sang-gyu, a fan who stayed up all night watching the final season, said the dystopian drama was "ultimately a story about people". "As you watch, you realise it's not just about the games — it reflects many aspects of real life." The walls of the Seoul Metropolitan Library were lit up with key scenes, including Young-hee — the giant motion-sensing animatronic doll featured in one of its brutal games. Lee Byung-hun, who played the masked Front Man overseeing the competition, said the show had become "something of a cultural phenomenon". "One that has drawn one of the boldest lines in the history of Korean content," he said. The first two seasons of the series are among Netflix's most-watched shows, and in 2022, Hwang and the show's leading actor, Lee Jung-jae, became the first Asian men to win Emmy Awards. The final season follows its hero Gi-hun, played by Lee, as he returns to the ultra-violent games to dismantle them from within after surviving the first round. Along with film-maker Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning 2019 thriller "Parasite" and K-pop sensation BTS, "Squid Game" is considered one of the most powerful examples of South Korea's rise as a global cultural force. — AFP
Muscat Daily
5 days ago
- Muscat Daily
Venetians say ‘I Don't' to Bezos wedding bash
Venice — Amazon founder and space dreamer Jeff Bezos may soon say 'I do' in one of the world's most romantic cities, but not everyone in Venice is throwing confetti. Bezos, who is set to marry Lauren Sánchez this week on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, has found himself at the centre of a spirited local protest — with Venetians reminding the billionaire that their historic city isn't just a backdrop for celebrity weddings. Venice's famously fed-up residents have plastered posters across landmarks like the Rialto Bridge and St Mark's Square with the blunt message: 'No Space for Bezos.' Environmental group Greenpeace joined the party too — with a giant banner at Piazza San Marco reading: 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax.' Their social media post pulled no punches either: 'Jeff Bezos pays poverty wages and dodges tax. No wonder he can afford to shut down half of Venice for his wedding this week. Tax billionaires NOW.' Meanwhile, the guest list for this star-studded affair reads like a Who's Who of Hollywood and high society: George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, Ivanka Trump, Barbra Streisand, Kim Kardashian, Robert Pattinson and Suki Waterhouse are all expected to toast the happy couple among Venice's canals. But while locals grumble about crowds and tax bills, City Hall is rolling out the red carpet. Officials insist Venice is used to big names and even bigger events — from the G7 to the Venice Biennale — and say most Venetians are thrilled their city is once again in the spotlight. Bezos and Sánchez, for their part, plan to weave local traditions into their nuptials, hoping a splash of Venetian culture might smooth over any protest drama. One thing's for sure: in a city already overrun by tourists, even a wedding can become a battle cry — especially when the groom is worth more than US$200bn.
Muscat Daily
6 days ago
- Muscat Daily
French police probe staged Disneyland ‘wedding' with minor
Paris, France – A fake wedding at Disneyland Paris in France triggered a police investigation on Sunday after the theme park's staff suspected that the 'bride' in the alleged ceremony was a 9-year-old Ukrainian girl. The bizarre incident was first reported by the Le Parisien daily. The paper said a man had hired the park's complex – which can be used for private events outside opening hours – for a total of €130,000 (US$150,000) several weeks before. Hundreds of extras were brought in to play the role of guests. 'A day worthy of a princess' The staff were shocked to see the young girl, who was barely able to stand in high heels, the report said, adding that they alerted the police that it could be an illegal child marriage. Authorities later said that the 'marriage' was staged. The girl's mother reportedly told the investigators that she wanted her daughter to feel like a Disney 'princess' for the day. 'So it wasn't a wedding, but a staged wedding filmed with around a hundred extras. They hired Disneyland Paris, pretending it was a real wedding,' news agency AFP quoted deputy prosecutor Alexandre Verney as saying. 4 people taken into custody A medical examination carried out on the girl showed that she had not suffered any violence. Four people were taken into custody as the police looked into the circumstances of the incident. The arrests included the so-called 'groom', a 22-year-old, presumably British man who allegedly organised the event, the Ukrainian mother and two Latvian nationals. DW
