BTS’ Jin Celebrates End of Military Service by Hugging 1,000 Fans

Patrick Frater

12 June 2024 at 6:00 am·2-min read

A three-hour hugging marathon in Seoul, South Korea, is set to be among the first public engagements of Jin, the oldest member of K-pop supergroup BTS, after being discharged on Wednesday from his 18 months of mandatory military service.

Some 1,000 fans of the pop star were chosen in a raffle. They will meet him on Thursday at this year’s BTS FESTA, an annual celebration of the band’s debut anniversary, to be held at the Seoul Sports Complex.

More from Variety

Thursday’s mass hug is to be followed by another event, with 3,000 others. There, Jin is reported to be willing to perform songs on request and share messages with fans. These will also be live-streamed on the Hybe-backed Weverse fan platform.

Jin was seen passing through the main gate of the 5th Army Infantry Division in Yeoncheon, 61 kilometers north of Seoul, at about 9 a.m., the Yonhap news agency reports. During his service, he served as an assistant drill instructor at the army recruit training center there.

Before Jin departed the Yeoncheon base, other band members, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook, while still serving their military call-up, put on a celebratory saxophone performance of the band’s single “Dynamite.” Suga was not present.

Yonhap also reports that the BTS members who are currently serving have applied for leave to reunite in Seoul for a private celebration. It is not clear whether permission was granted.

Jin is the first of BTS’ seven members to complete their military duty. J-Hope is expected to be next to be discharged in October. BTS is expected to return to work as a septet in 2025, after all of the members finish their military service. Jin is also expected to start work on a solo album.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required to serve between 18 and 21 months in the military, though there has been controversy over its application and the limited exceptions to the rule.

Best of Variety

INSIDER
Ukraine is killing Russian missiles with hand-me-down air-defense weapons the US retired decades ago
The MIM-23 HAWK surface-to-air system was first fielded in the 1960s and has long been considered obsolete, with militaries favoring other weapons.
The Telegraph
Russian air strike ‘destroys five Ukrainian fighter jets’ at airbase
A Russian missile attack destroyed five warplanes at a Ukrainian airbase primed to receive F-16 fighter jets from Kyiv’s Nato allies.
INSIDER
Carrier strike group commander who oversaw 'unprecedented' Red Sea battle says the US Navy needs to make sure it's ready for a drone fight
Rear Adm. Marc Miguez, who oversaw months of combat between the US Navy and the Houthis, shared what he learned from the Red Sea battle.
Euronews
Palestinians flee Gaza's second-largest city as Hezbollah demands ceasefire
Clashes on the southern Lebanese border have raised the possibility of a direct conflict between Hezbollah and the Israeli military.
Reuters
Philippines president orders de-escalation in South China Sea, military chief says
MANILA (Reuters) -Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has ordered his armed forces to defuse tensions in the South China Sea, his military chief said on Thursday, after a flare-up with China over missions to resupply Filipino troops on a contested shoal. Marcos' instructions came after Manila and Beijing agreed on the need to restore trust and confidence to better manage maritime disputes during a round of talks which Manila hosted on Tuesday. But that did not stop the Philippine military from calling for China to return the firearms that its coast guard seized from Filipino navy personnel and pay around $1 million in compensation for damaging vessels involved in last month's resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal.
INSIDER
Russian submarines fought a torpedo duel in waters surrounded by NATO allies
Russian exercises involved submarines dueling in the Baltic Sea, as well as practicing detecting, tracking, and evading enemy subs.
The Telegraph
The US Air Force seems hell-bent on getting rid of its greatest ever fighter jet
The US Air Force has been in an unseemly hurry to rid itself of its Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor stealth fighters. Its argument: the 32 least-upgraded Block 20 versions of the supersonic, fifth-generation stealth fighter aren’t suitable for combat – and together cost nearly half a billion dollars a year to maintain.
People
Soldiers Reunite with Stray Dogs They Fell in Love with During Deployment and Are Now Adopting as Pets
Paws of War organized an emotional reunion for five dogs and the four soldiers who cared for them while deployed in the Middle East
AFP News
Germany, Sweden arrest eight over Syria crimes against humanity
Investigators in Germany and Sweden on Wednesday arrested eight suspects allied with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government over alleged participation in crimes against humanity in Syria, prosecutors said.- 'Severe and repeated' abuse - German prosecutors said that those arrested in Sweden also belonged to the FPM and participated in the crimes on July 13, 2012.
Euronews
Europeans sceptical on defence spend, Ukraine membership, poll finds
Policymakers are bullish about the need to step up in the face of Russian aggression and potential US apathy – but their voters aren’t so sure.
CNN
US to announce new $2.3 billion military aid package for Ukraine
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that the US would soon be announcing more than $2.3 billion in military aid for Ukraine.
Malay Mail
As AG stays silent, Rosmah presses on with bid to strike out money laundering and tax evasion charges
KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's money laundering and tax evasion trial proceeded today despite the lac...
Malay Mail
In court, Mais and Hindu family agree man won’t be reburied according to Islamic rites; next-of-kin to inherit assets
KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — A court dispute between the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) and a Hindu family was sett...
AFP News
Indian tycoon launches mass weddings to celebrate son's nuptials
Asia's richest man, billionaire Indian tycoon Mukesh Ambani, launched Tuesday the start of the lavish finale of his son's wedding celebrations with mass nuptials for 52 "underprivileged" couples.At the wedding ceremony on Tuesday, at a Reliance office park in the city of Navi Mumbai, each couple was given gold and silver wedding jewellery, $1,200 in cash and groceries "sufficient for one year", the company said.
The Telegraph
Martina Navratilova hits out at ‘regressive’ campaign featuring rugby players in lingerie
Martina Navratilova has led a backlash against a “regressive” campaign featuring Team GB’s Olympic rugby players in lingerie.
Bloomberg
These flight routes suffer the world’s worst turbulence
A series of incidents that left scores of airline passengers needing medical attention has shone a spotlight on the problem of severe in-flight turbulence.
Entertainment Weekly
Victoria and David Beckham rewear purple wedding outfits to celebrate 25th anniversary: 'Look what we found'
The soccer star and Spice Girls singer married July 4, 1999.
The Telegraph
Hindu priest sexually abused hundreds of followers, High Court hears
A woman accusing a religious leader of exploiting and sexually abusing her told the High Court he has done it to “hundreds” of his followers over the last 40 years.
Business Insider Video
Hong Kong Mafia (triad) member breaks down 12 HK Mafia scenes in movies and TV
Jimmy Tsui, a former member of the Sun Yee On triad in Hong Kong and Tung On in New York City's Chinatown, breaks down 12 Chinese organized-crime scenes in movies and TV shows based on realism. Tsui breaks down the accuracy of triad activities in Hong Kong and the United States, such as the money-laundering scenes in "Rush Hour 2," with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker; "A Better Tomorrow," with Chow Yun-fat and Leslie Cheung; the human smuggling ring in "Lethal Weapon 4," with Jet Li, Mel Gibson, and Danny Glover; and the connection of triads with the nightclub and movie industries in Hong Kong in "Young and Dangerous 3." He explains the realism of triads dealing with law enforcement and other international criminal organizations, such as the Irish Mob in "The Departed," with Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson; the tensions between the yakuza and the San Francisco triad in "War," with Jason Statham; the relationship between the Hong Kong police and the triads in "Infernal Affairs," starring Tony Leung and Andy Lau; and the interaction with motorcycle clubs in "Sons of Anarchy" S6E10. Tsui also looks at scenes in New York City's Chinatown, such as the rivalry between two Tong associations in "The Corruptor," with Mark Wahlberg and Chow Yun-fat; and the gambling-house scene in "Year of the Dragon." Tsui also explains the rituals and hierarchy of the triads, such as the initiation-ceremony scene in "Election" (2005) and the voting scene in "The Brothers Sun" E7, starring Michelle Yeoh. Tsui was involved with the Sun Yee On triad and Tung On in New York City's Chinatown for over 10 years. In 1985 in New York, he was arrested and charged with robbery and homicide with a $1.5 million bail. The case was dismissed and resulted in his transition into Sun Yee On in 1988. He was involved in karaoke bars, gambling houses, and various scams. After leaving the triads, Tsui got involved with Chinatown Gang Stories, a YouTube channel organized by Mike Moy, a former gang member and New York City Police Department officer. You can learn more about Jimmy Tsui's story here: https://www.youtube.com/@chinatowngangstories
Malay Mail
What you should know about: Malaysia’s proposed ‘lemon law’ for cars
Malaysia is proposing a so-called “lemon law” that would provide vehicle buyers in the country more protection against f...

Latest stories