Members of the world-famous K-pop boy band BTS will be fulfilling their military service beginning with the oldest member, Jin, who will soon be turning 30, the band's agency said on Monday.
"Jin will retract his request to delay his military service at the end of October and will follow conscription procedures required by the Military Manpower Administration," Big Hit Music said in its statement, adding that other members will follow suit according to their plans.
Big Hit Music also said that the members are currently hoping to resume their career as a group around 2025, but it is difficult to give a specific date at this moment.
With Jin reaching the upper age limit that the nation's current law mandates to start military service, there has been a fierce debate over BTS members' fulfillment of the duty.
Under the current law, elite athletes and winners of artistic competitions are exempted from military service, which is mandatory for all eligible males. Lawmakers have been looking at extending the exemptions for pop culture figures, however.
The South Korean National Assembly's National Defense Committee has previously commissioned South Korean polling company Realmeter to conduct a survey on the issue, in which 60.9 percent of the public approved of revisions to the law.
Related coverage:
6 in 10 South Koreans approve BTS members' military service exemption
