BTS’s Jimin and Jungkook officially discharged, greet fans with salute

BTS members Jimin and Jungkook were officially discharged from the military on the morning of June 11 KST, after completing 18 months of mandatory service.

The two enlisted on December 12, 2023, and served as active-duty soldiers in the Army’s 5th Infantry Division Artillery Brigade.

After completing their discharge process inside the base, they moved to Yeoncheon Public Stadium in Gyeonggi Province, where they greeted reporters and fans without any official event.

Despite the early hour, a large number of fans gathered to celebrate their return. The crowd erupted into cheers as Jimin and Jungkook appeared holding large bouquets.

The two, slightly shy in front of cameras after a long time, gave a crisp salute and proudly shouted “Dan-gyeol!” — a Korean military expression for unity.

Jungkook said, “Thank you to everyone who came. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in front of a camera—I didn’t even wear makeup today, so I feel a little embarrassed. I’m not sure what to say,” he laughed.

Jimin added, “Thank you so much for coming all this way to see us. And to ARMY, thank you for waiting for such a long time—from the pandemic through to our military service. Now that we’re discharged, we’ll begin painting the picture we’ve been preparing. We’ll show you better things from now on.”

Jungkook also thanked his fellow soldiers and officers, saying, “To the seniors who went before us, the juniors still in service, the comrades who were discharged earlier, and the officers who looked after us—thank you for taking care of us.”

Reflecting on military life, Jimin shared, “It was my first time in the military, and honestly, it wasn’t easy. But through the hardships, eating meals together, and enduring together, I formed strong bonds with the people around me.”

The duo said, “We’ll carry these memories in our hearts and share more of them with you over time.”

Jimin also offered a message to the public: “Now that I’ve experienced military life, I can say it’s not an easy place. If you see a soldier on the street, please consider offering a warm word—it would mean so much.”

With RM and V discharged the previous day, and SUGA scheduled to complete his alternative service on June 21, all BTS members have now fulfilled their military duties, marking the end of their military hiatus which began in December 2022.