The oldest member of K-pop group BTS, Jin is starting military service on Tuesday (December 13) and he might be posted near the danger zones near North Korea.

In October BTS announced plans to sign up for mandatory military service starting with Jin. The singer turned 30 on December 4 and has postponed his service for the maximum time allowed.

Military service: BTS' Jin posted near North Korea

In 2025, the band will reunite after pursuing individual projects. South Korea requires all able-bodied men to serve at least 18 months in the armed forces. Men between the ages of 18 and 28 are required to fulfil this duty but in 2019, the country revised the law to let globally recognised K-pop stars to delay signing up until 30.

North Korea?

Although some lawmakers have pushed for a shorter term, granted to medal winners at the Olympic and Asian Games, as well as some classical musicians, the bill is still pending. According to Yonhap news agency, another BTS member, Suga has been judged unfit for active duty and would do community service instead.

BTS’ agency Big Hit has declined to confirm the report on privacy grounds, but said that all members of BTS will fulfil their duties.

Every new military recruit must have his hair cut short before undergoing a five-week basic training programme at the start of their service. Jin showed off his new buzz cut prior to enlistment. On Sunday he shared photos of his buzz cut and wearing a black T-shirt on the Weverse online fan community.

“Ha ha ha. It’s cuter than I thought,” its caption reads.

One fan on Twitter wrote: “Wow you look super good Jin. You’re still the most handsome in the world.”

One user on Jin’s Weverse online fan community wished him “nothing but healthiness and well-being”.

North Korea

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“Please be happy and safe. Kim Seok-jin, we will miss you deeply but we’re going to stay right here waiting for you forever. Please don’t forget we love you.”

Jin, whose real name is Kim Seok-jin, is the first in the band to fulfil his obligatory military duty. The other six members of the group – RM, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, also have to perform military duty.

After five weeks’ training at the camp, about 45 km from the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone near North Korea that separates South Korea from North Korea, Jin will be deployed to a unit that has not been specified.

The K-pop band last performed together in the middle of October at a concert in Busan, South Korea. Jin’s final performance came a few weeks later where he joined British band Coldplay on stage in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

It was during that show that Jin made his solo debut with the single, Astronaut. The track was co-written by Jin and Coldplay. During the performance, Jin and Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin hugged each other, in a sign of true friendship.