Will BTS disband after military enlistment? 4 K-pop groups that made successful comebacks after mandatory service, from BigBang and Super Junior to Shinee and 2PM

BTS’ military enlistment plans have finally been revealed, with Hybe announcing on October 17 that all members of the South Korean supergroup will serve their compulsory military time, starting with eldest member Jin at the end of the year. “The members of BTS are currently moving forward with plans to fulfil their military service. Group member Jin will initiate the process as soon as his schedule for his solo release is concluded at the end of October. Other members of the group plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans,” the entertainment company announced. Hybe is the parent company of the Big Hit Music label, to which BTS is signed. According to Allkpop, South Korea’s Military Service Act stipulates that persons with special skills in the fields of arts and sports may be given an extension or exemption from service. The Korea Times reported that this honour is typically bestowed upon athletes or classical musicians, and not K-pop idols. However, many – including South Korean lawmaker Kim Young-bae – have been calling for K-pop celebrities to be exempted from military service. “Korean pop celebrities active in the international field make unimaginable economic and social contributions … I believe pop celebrities will make important contributions to the national interest,” Kim said in the same report. Blackpink’s Jennie and BTS’ V’s ‘romance’ heats up For many K-pop boy bands, military enlistment can mean the end of the group, as being away from the public eye can result in loss of popularity. Many groups choose to disband or not to renew their contracts instead of trying to take another shot at regaining their fame. However, there are a few bands that have taken years off for military service but had well-received comebacks. Will BTS follow in the footsteps of these groups? 1. Super Junior One of SM Entertainment’s most popular boy groups, Super Junior went on hiatus for 10 whole years so that all members could complete their military service, according to Koreaboo. In 2019, the group reunited for its “Super Show 8” concert and thanked their fans for waiting patiently for its comeback. The group remains active today, even releasing its 11th album, The Road: Keep on Going in July. 2. 2PM JYP Entertainment boy band 2PM made a comeback in 2021 after a five-year hiatus and the departure of one member, Taecyeon, from the agency. The group released a new album titled Must in 2021, only 100 days after its last member, Junho, was discharged from the military, as per The Korea Herald. Meet Son Ye-jin’s ‘Cinderella 7’ squad, from Gong Hyo-jin to Lee Jung-hyun While promotions have finished for the album, and members are focusing on their solo careers and personal lives – Chansung recently got married and became a father, Soompi reported – fans are already awaiting their next comeback. 3. BigBang The former five-member group officially went on hiatus in 2018 but faced controversy when one of them, Seungri, was implicated as part of the Burning Sun scandal and was forced to leave the band. The group stayed under the radar as the remaining members completed their military duties. The last two members to enlist, Taeyang and Daesung, were officially discharged in November 2019. Many believed that the group would never make a comeback but the band surprised fans when it released a new single, “Still Life”, in 2022. Despite minimal promotions, the single became the highest-debuting idol group song on the Melon 24Hits chart, as per Allkpop. 4. Shinee 5 facts about Nana, the controversial star of new Netflix K-drama Glitch While not all of the members of Shinee have finished military service – its youngest member Taemin is still completing his – the group managed to release new music in 2021 after three of its members completed their service. The group’s 14th anniversary in May 2022 saw them announcing that it would be making a comeback in 2023, with members Onew, Minho and Key posing in front of giant screens that read “Shinee: 2023 Shinee is back.” Want more stories like this? Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.