BTS celebrates Lunar New Year in military

SEOUL, Feb. 12 (Yonhap) -- Members of K-pop superband BTS sent New Year's greetings from the military camps where they began mandatory duties since last year.

BTS leader RM on Sunday posted on the fan community platform Weverse, saying, "I'll have to spend another Lunar New Year away to see you all, but I am also making good use of my time."

▲ K-pop boy group BTS poses for a photo after they arrived at a military boot camp in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, on Dec. 11, 2023, to see off members RM and V, who entered the camp to receive five weeks of basic military training, in this photo captured from the group's account on X, formerly known as Twitter. (Yonhap)

RM greeted the fans saying, "Hello ARMY (BTS fandom), I hope you are all doing well ... I am adapting well in the military. I had tteokguk (rice cake soup) and am enjoying a bit of rest during the Lunar New Year, living well." He also expressed his wishes for the fans to always be healthy and have more good things happen than bad, adding, "I hope our connection continues, and I wish you a Happy New Year."

BTS' RM, V, Jungkook, and Jimin have been serving in the military camps since December last year. The eldest member, Jin, enlisted in December 2022, while J-Hope enlisted in April last year. Suga has been serving as a social service worker since September last year.

Jimin also posted on Weverse, saying, "It's Lunar New Year for ARMY ... I hope you have a happy Lunar New Year, and I hope this year will be healthy and full of happiness without any illness." He reassured fans, "Jungkook and I are doing well, so don't worry too much and come visit us again."

BTS hopes to resume group activities in 2025 after all the members have completed their military service.