BTS Said They Will Likely Eventually Break Up to Serve in the South Korean Military
There’s no denying that BTS is on a record-breaking spree. In the last couple of months alone the K-pop superstars have become the first K-Pop group to ever appear on Saturday Night Live and the first K-Pop act to ever receive a nomination and present at the Grammys — to name only a few achievements. However, while BTS will hopefully have a long and successful career, something inevitable might cause them to split up, or at least take a hiatus.
In a new interview with CBS Sunday Morning, the Bangtan Boys opened up about the potentially imminent possibility of the band eventually breaking up due to South Korea’s mandatory military service.
Currently, South Korea requires all “able-bodied men” from age 18 to 28 to serve a minimum of 21 months in the military — with some exemptions for athletes and musicians. However, K-pop acts are not typically included in the latter group.
When asked how the possibility of serving in the military would affect the group, the septet was on the same page. “As a Korean, it’s natural and someday, when duty calls, we’ll be ready to respond and do our best,” Jin told the interviewer.
Though the military service is not a life-long commitment, BTS was also asked whether they’d be worried about drifting away and going separate ways when the moment comes. “I don’t want to think about it at this point. We have something really good going,” Jungkook admitted. “We just enjoy the ride. Live in the moment. And that’s all we can do,” RM finally proclaimed.
As things stand, it sure looks like the band will most likely eventually break up — even if momentarily — to serve but, as RM proves, it's not helpful to dwell on that possibility at the moment; instead, we should focus on more uplifting feats from the guys, like their brand-new album, Map of the Soul: Persona, or their momentous upcoming performance at 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
Let us slide into your DMs. Sign up for the Teen Vogue daily email.
Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: Jungkook Wants BTS to Make Music With Billie Eilish, and I’m Ready
