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Free Malaysia Today
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
BTS megastars RM and V released from S. Korea's military
BTS leader RM and singer V were discharged from South Korean military service today. (EPA Images pic) CHUNCHEON : The world's most popular boy band is heading for a reunion: K-pop megastars RM and V from BTS were released today after service 18 months of South Korean military service, prompting a fan frenzy. The seven members of BTS, South Korea's most lucrative musical act, have been on a hiatus since 2022 while they separately undertake mandatory military service, required of all South Korean men under the age of 30. Hundreds of fans gathered near two army bases just outside of the capital Seoul where band leader RM – recently named 'Favourite K-pop Artiste' at the American Music Awards – and singer V were discharged. 'To be honest, there were many difficult and painful moments. But during my service, I truly felt how so many people were protecting the country in our place,' RM told reporters. V said military service was 'a time for me to reset and rebuild both my body and mind'. 'Now that I've done that, I truly want to run straight to ARMY as soon as possible,' he said, referring to the band's official fandom name. When asked by reporters what they wanted to do after discharge, both replied, 'perform'. 'What we want most right now is to perform again,' said RM. 'We're working hard on the new album so we can return to the stage as soon as possible.' In total, four BTS members will complete their service this week. Two were discharged last year, and the final member SUGA – who has been working as a social service agent for alternative non-active-duty service – will be released later this month. HYBE, the band's agency, urged fans not to go to the discharge location, citing safety concerns. 'With the safety of both artistes and fans in mind, we strongly urge fans not to go to the location in person,' the agency wrote on Weverse, its superfan platform. Despite the warning, dozens of fans gathered outside V's military base, eagerly awaiting the return of their star. 'Honestly, I came here with such high expectations,' Yang Ho-hee, 28, told AFP outside the base. Fans had hung colourful banners to welcome the 29-year-old back to civilian life. 'Taehyung, let's never be apart again,' one said, referring to V's real name, Kim Tae-hyung. 'I'll follow only you, Taehyung. We are each other's strength,' said another. Reunion tour? Near the bases, on a football field where the newly released BTS members spoke, hundreds of fans from around the world gathered hoping to catch a glimpse of their idols. 'Actually, it's mixed emotions. I feel like I'm crying already,' said Arlene Mendoza, a fan from the Philippines. 'I've been travelling to Korea so many times, but this is actually the first time I'll see V.' In addition to the army releases, Friday is so-called FESTA – a celebration that marks the anniversary of the group's debut and typically draws thousands of global fans to Seoul. Mendoza told AFP she plans to attend fellow member J-Hope's concert on Friday, plus join other BTS FESTA events. All the band members signed new contracts with HYBE in 2023, and once SUGA is released on June 21, analysts expect profit-driving reunion activities. 'In the case of HYBE share prices, the current market consensus is seen as not fully reflecting BTS's impact,' Lim Soo-jin, an analyst at Daishin Securities, told AFP. Despite an ongoing police investigation into the company chairman for suspected insider trading and a recent raid by authorities, analysts say HYBE's shares are up, rising by 10% over the past week through June 9. GDP impact Prior to their mandatory military service, the boy band generated more than 5.5 trillion won in yearly economic impact, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute. That accounts for roughly 0.2% of South Korea's total GDP, according to official data. HYBE has hinted at a BTS comeback this year, but has also said the members 'need time for reflection and preparation'. 'Normally, the process goes from song production to album release, then a tour,' Lee Jae-sang, CEO of HYBE, told a shareholder meeting in March. 'But since BTS have already become global top-tier artists, we are continuing discussions about their vision and what's next,' Lee added. Outside HYBE headquarters in Seoul, banners from fans read: 'Thank you for making even the waiting feel joyful.' The building was wrapped with the slogan 'WE ARE BACK', the official logo for the upcoming BTS FESTA. HYBE shares opened nearly 3% higher this morning, reaching their highest level in two years.
Free Malaysia Today
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
5 things to know about the K-pop juggernaut
K-pop boy band BTS members RM (left) and V salute for fans and members of the press at an outdoor sporting facility in Chuncheon on June 10, 2025. (AFP pic) SEOUL : All the members of South Korea's most lucrative boyband BTS are set to finish their military service this month, paving the way for the K-pop super-group to release new music. The news has prompted a fan frenzy, with speculation rife about forthcoming releases and even tours. AFP takes a look at what is going on: Who are they? The seven-member K-pop group known as BTS – short for Bangtan Boys, which means 'Bulletproof Boy Scouts' in Korean – are the world's most followed music group on Instagram. Debuting in 2013, the septet – RM, Jin, V, J-Hope, Jungkook, Jimin, and SUGA – gained moderate recognition in South Korea, but experts say it wasn't until their 2017 performance at the American Music Awards that they shot to global fame. Over the next five years, they became the most-streamed group on Spotify, the first K-pop act to top both the Billboard 200 and the Billboard Artist 100 charts, and the most-awarded group in history. They have also become widely regarded as youth icons and have delivered speeches at the United Nations and met then-US president Joe Biden at the White House to address anti-Asian hate crimes. What happened? In 2022, the group said they would be going on a 'hiatus' after nine years, citing exhaustion from the brutal K-pop system. 'The K-pop and idol system doesn't allow a person to mature,' said leader RM during a livestream. The announcement sparked debate over the K-pop industry's structure and its neglect of artists' mental health. But even at the time, analysts said the break seemed to owe more to the need for them to undertake their mandatory military service – from which, despite their massive economic contributions to South Korea, the group were not exempt. Six months later, Jin, the oldest of the group, enlisted, with the others following suit. South Korea offers service exemptions to some athletes – including Olympic medallists – and also some classical musicians, but no K-pop star has yet received one. What's their plan? With all the members to be discharged by the end of June, many fans are hoping for a reunion, and RM and V said Tuesday after their release that they hoped to quickly get back to performing. Their agency, HYBE, has hinted at a comeback – possibly in 2026 – but also said members 'need time for reflection and preparation'. The group will likely take a ''visual recovery' period of around three months', Yoo Sung-man, an analyst at Leading Investment and Securities, told AFP. This would give them time to grow out their military buzz cuts before they are 'expected to make a full-group comeback near the end of the year'. Is this good for K-pop? It's very good for their agency HYBE – which has seen its shares soar – and the industry as whole, experts say. Lee Ki-hoon, a researcher at Hana Securities, said a full-member world tour is expected to attract 'more than three million attendees annually and generate around 700 billion won in tour revenue by 2026'. Official figures estimate the group accounted for some 0.2% of South Korea's total GDP at their pre-military peak – and their return bodes well for the industry as a whole. 'The comebacks of leading K-pop artists like BTS and BLACKPINK, expands attendance for global tours,' said Lee Hwan-wook of Yuanta Securities Korea. What about the fans? Fans are elated to see BTS members back, with a chance to catch a glimpse of them over the next few days. The members' discharge comes days ahead of the annual BTS FESTA, set to take place Friday, marking the group's 12th anniversary. It is expected to draw tens of thousands of fans from around the world. 'I planned my trip two years before around the FESTA, because I knew the members will be out by then,' Hannah Chung, a 28-year-old who lives in London, told AFP. 'I hope we're able to see them, at least just once at the concert like 2024.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BTS' RM and V Discharged Following South Korean Military Service
The long-awaited BTS reunion is getting closer to happening, with two more members of the South Korean group completing their mandatory military service. On Tuesday (June 10), it was reported that BTS members RM and V were discharged from the South Korean military after completing their required service. The pair's discharge was welcomed by hundreds of their fans (known as members of BTS' ARMY fandom) who had gathered in Chuncheon City to greet the two musicians. More from Billboard Quincy Jones Remembered by Lucky Daye, Luke James & Miles Caton With Smooth 2025 BET Awards Tribute Jamie Foxx Honored by Stevie Wonder & Reflects on Health Scare at BET Awards: 'You Can't Go Through Something Like That & Not Testify' Lil Wayne Brings 'Tha Carter' Album Series Full-Circle With 'A Milli' Performance at 2025 BET Awards 'To all the ARMYs who have waited for us in the military, I want to say I am truly, truly grateful,' V told gathered fans and media. 'Please wait just a little longer and we will return with a really cool performance.' BTS pressed pause on their work as a group in 2023 in order for its members to fulfill their duties as South Korean men between the ages of 18 and 35 and serve a total of 18 months in the South Korean military. Jin and J-Hope were discharged from their service in June and October of 2024, respectively, while Jimin and JungKook are scheduled to be discharged on Wednesday (June 11). Suga was assigned alternative service, and has been operating as a social worker since his service began. His discharge is expected to occur later this month. While all members of BTS have released solo projects in the interim, the approaching end of their collective military service has been eagerly anticipated by fans, who are looking forward to the band announcing their official reunion plans. 'I look forward to June when our members will have completed their service,' J-Hope told Apple Music 1's Zane Lowe last month. 'We will quickly get together and talk about what BTS can do in the future. I think it's going to be a massive energy.' 'When we're all back together as a group, it's going to have a huge impact, and everybody's going to be watching,' J-Hope also said to Weverse Magazine in December. 'I'm excited to see what it'll feel like when we perform together again. I want to come back in style and say, 'This is us. This is BTS.' I can't speak for everyone, but I can tell you the other members feel the same way.' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
The Independent
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
AP PHOTOS: BTS stars Jimin and Jung Kook discharged from military service
Hundreds of fans gathered Wednesday to catch a glimpse of K-pop superstars Jimin and Jung Kook, the latest and final members of BTS to be discharged from South Korea's mandatory military service. Supporters traveled from around the world to the public sports ground where the meet-and-greet took place. Color-wrapped buses bearing BTS members' faces lined the streets while red and yellow balloons floated above and a decorated food truck provided free coffee and water, adding to the festive atmosphere. A day earlier, RM and V each saluted upon their release in Chuncheon City as about 200 fans, some of whom traveled from Mexico, Turkey and Brazil, cheered. Jin, the oldest member of the K-pop supergroup, was discharged from the army in June 2024. J-Hope was discharged in October. The seventh member, Suga, is fulfilling his duty as a social service agent, an alternative to military service. The seven BTS members plan to reunite as a group sometime in 2025. Anaesi, a fan from Portugal, displayed a colorful tattoo featuring a golden shield emblazoned with 'ARMY,' along with BTS members' names in Korean. She said the group 'saved' her from depression. 'So for me BTS is my angel,' she said. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Associated Press
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
AP PHOTOS: BTS stars Jimin and Jung Kook discharged from military service
YEONCHEON, South Korea (AP) — Hundreds of fans gathered Wednesday to catch a glimpse of K-pop superstars Jimin and Jung Kook, the latest and final members of BTS to be discharged from South Korea's mandatory military service. Supporters traveled from around the world to the public sports ground where the meet-and-greet took place. Color-wrapped buses bearing BTS members' faces lined the streets while red and yellow balloons floated above and a decorated food truck provided free coffee and water, adding to the festive atmosphere. A day earlier, RM and V each saluted upon their release in Chuncheon City as about 200 fans, some of whom traveled from Mexico, Turkey and Brazil, cheered. Jin, the oldest member of the K-pop supergroup, was discharged from the army in June 2024. J-Hope was discharged in October. The seventh member, Suga, is fulfilling his duty as a social service agent, an alternative to military service. The seven BTS members plan to reunite as a group sometime in 2025. Anaesi, a fan from Portugal, displayed a colorful tattoo featuring a golden shield emblazoned with 'ARMY,' along with BTS members' names in Korean. She said the group 'saved' her from depression. 'So for me BTS is my angel,' she said. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
