Jin, the eldest member of BTS, started his mandatory military service in South Korea on Tuesday, joining other new soldiers at a boot camp near the border with North Korea, according to multiple outlets.
Jin, 30, whose full name is Kim Seok-jin, is the first member of BTS to begin 18 months of military duty, which is required by South Korean law for all eligible men between the ages of 18 and 35. The members of BTS range in age from 25 to 30.
After speculation and public debate over whether the K-pop superstars would pursue an exemption to avoid military service, the group’s label, Bighit Music, announced in October that BTS members would be joining the army. The label said the artists will stagger their military service while they pursue their solo projects.
