j-hope is the second BTS member to complete his military duty, following the eldest member, Jin, who was discharged this past June.
At around 10 AM, local media reported that j-hope appeared outside the main gate of the 36th Infantry Division training camp in Wonju, approximately 90 km southeast of Seoul, where he had served during his military duty. The dancer and rapper was seen smiling brightly as he embraced and received a bouquet from Jin.
Jin, who greeted his bandmate, wore a simple outfit— a white T-shirt with a dark red overshirt and black glasses. He was the only BTS member present to welcome j-hope. The other members—Suga, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—are still serving or preparing for military service. In South Korea, all able-bodied men must serve in the military for 18 to 21 months.
j-hope’s discharge, alongside Jin’s appearance, attracted attention, especially when Jin crouched down, holding a bouquet of microphones for the media. After receiving flowers from Jin, j-hope waved and greeted the cheering reporters stationed outside the camp. Previously, BTS’s agency, BigHit Music, had advised fans not to come to the camp to avoid overcrowding. However, many fans from around the world, including Japan, Italy, and Brazil, gathered to catch a glimpse of the two superstars.
In his speech, j-hope shared, “During my service, I saw how hard soldiers worked, giving their all to protect the country. I think it’s even more meaningful when the public shows such warm love and interest. Thank you for your immense support, encouragement, and love. I’ve completed my service healthy and safe.”
Afterward, j-hope boarded a private car and blew kisses to the press and fans until the car drove away.
Later on, the male idol held a live broadcast to greet fans, where he expressed regrets for not having studied English in the military.
“I can somehow do it since I’m in the military, but realistically, I don’t have time. I’m so tired on the days when I have to control the trainees. Usually, when they have to study, the teaching assistants don’t have much time for personal preparation. Their work starts at 8:30 in the morning and usually ends at 5:30 in the afternoon and they go on to personal preparation, but the teaching assistants have to invest even more time than that to control the trainees, so they finish at 10 in the afternoon. Do you think I could have done it?”, the male idol said.
“In the military, we had a lot of time and there were no cell phones, so a lot of my friends studied during that time. I wish I had studied then, but it was my fault”, he also shared, adding, “I read a lot of your letters. While reading, I felt your emotions, that there are many people who support BTS and J-Hope, and that those emotions are sincere. I’m really so grateful”.
Meanwhile, j-hope enlisted in April of last year, becoming the second BTS member to serve after Jin. He served as a drill instructor at the 36th Infantry Division’s training camp in Wonju, Gangwon Province. Now discharged, j-hope is expected to resume his solo activities, exciting fans around the world.
Source: Daum, K14
