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| ▲ BTS' Jungkook (L) and Jimin are discharged from the artillery brigade of the 5th Infantry Division in Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, and greet their fans with a salute during a commemorative event held at the nearby Yeoncheon Public Stadium, on June 11, 2025. (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- BTS members Jimin (Park Ji-min) and Jungkook (Jeon Jung-kook) have completed their 18-month mandatory military service and were officially discharged as Army sergeants.
After being discharged from the artillery brigade of the 5th Infantry Division in Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday morning, Jimin and Jungkook greeted their fans with a salute during a commemorative event held at the nearby Yeoncheon Public Stadium.
Around 8 a.m., the two stepped out of a vehicle and walked toward the event area, where about 500 fans and members of the press had gathered. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause.
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| ▲ BTS' Jungkook (L) and Jimin are discharged from the artillery brigade of the 5th Infantry Division in Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province on June 11, 2025. (Yonhap) |
Jimin and Jungkook received large bouquets from their agency staff and greeted fans with bright smiles.
Jimin said, “It’s been quite a long time, from COVID-19 until the military, and I’m so grateful you waited for us. I think we can now continue painting the picture we were drawing before, and we’ll prepare to show you an even better version of ourselves.”
He added, “It was my first time in the military, and honestly, it wasn’t an easy place. I’d be really thankful if you could offer a few kind words to soldiers when you see them.”
Jungkook said, “It’s been so long since I’ve been in front of a camera, and I’m embarrassed because I didn’t even put on makeup. I’m not sure what to say. Our juniors who are still serving and the comrades who were discharged a bit earlier had a tough time serving alongside us.”
The unit where they served is located in Sinseo-myeon, Yeoncheon County. Due to the narrow roads leading to the base and safety concerns, the official event was held at the public stadium instead of the main gate of the unit.
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| ▲ BTS' Jimin (L) and Jungkook are seen in this photo captured from the band's official X page. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Banners celebrating their discharge were strung all around the military town leading to the stadium. Surrounding the venue, large balloons and signs with messages like “The purple return, time to soar again” and “Now it’s Jungkook’s time” caught the eye.
Fans from both Korea and abroad gathered early in the morning near the base and around the event venue, holding signs and cheering sticks to celebrate the duo’s discharge.
One fan from Brazil said, “I love Jungkook so much that I came to Korea yesterday, and I’ve been waiting here since 5 a.m. I’m so happy that I can see Jungkook, even from afar, despite the crowd.”
A fan from Japan said with tears in her eyes, “Yesterday, I went to Gangwon Province to see RM and V, and today I came to Yeoncheon. I’m so glad they were discharged safely and in good health.”
According to the military, Jimin and Jungkook enlisted together as active-duty soldiers in December 2023 and served in the 5th Division's artillery brigade as a gunner and a cook, respectively.
Suga (Min Yoongi), currently serving as a public service worker, is scheduled to complete his service on the 21st. With that, BTS is expected to soon return as a full group.
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