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A photo posted on Instagram by V of BTS of himself (upper left) on a video call with Jungkook ahead of their induction into the military. (from @V on Instagram)

BTS members RM and V began their mandatory military service on Monday. Fellow band members Jungkook and Jimin are scheduled to enlist on Tuesday, meaning all members of the boy band will have begun mandatory military service.

“The day has finally come,” RM said on Weverse, a K-pop fan community platform, on Sunday.

“I was really happy to live as a BTS member over the past 10 years,” the group’s leader said ahead of his enlistment. “As every ending is another beginning, I believe that something good will be waiting for us when this is all over,” he added, expressing hopes to learn and get fresh inspiration from his upcoming service.

“I always wanted to be a person who is by your side even when I am not there,” RM said. “Goodbye for now.”

In a Weverse live chat on Dec. 5, fellow member V said he was “nervous,” adding that “those serving alongside me may be younger than I am, but I believe I’ll be able to learn from them.”

Before enlisting, V also shared screenshots of a video call with Jungkook on Instagram on Monday. The photos showed both members with buzzed hair. V told Jungkook, “I’ll go first. Be careful when you join me tomorrow.”

Jungkook and Jimin are expected to enlist on Tuesday.

Jin, the oldest BTS member, enlisted in December 2022. J-Hope enlisted in April 2023. Suga began serving as a social service agent, an alternative to regular military service for those meeting certain conditions, this past September. By June 2025, all BTS members are expected to complete their military service. BTS and their management firm hope to resume the full band’s activity in 2025.

By Suh Jung-min, staff reporter

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