How Will BTS’ Military Service Affect Their Careers? HYBE Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk Weighs In

J-Hope has announced that he will be the next member of BTS to enlist in the South Korean army. The exact date on which he will step away from music to carry out his two years of mandatory military service is yet to be announced.In a message to fans on WeVerse, he said: “I can’t tell you exactly in detail, but I have the date to enlist already.

BTS, has released a preview of its upcoming collaboration with UK-based footwear brand Dr. Martens.Today (March 16), the South Korean Dr.

RM, also a member of the boyband BTS, has opened up about K-pop’s pursuit of perfection and how its viewed in the West.On a recent trip to Spain, RM took the time to speak with Spanish newspaper El País, where he was asked about whether the pursuit of youth, perfection and overachievement in K-pop is characteristic of Korean culture as a whole.“In the West, people just don’t get it,” RM replied. “Korea is a country that has been invaded, razed to the ground, torn in two.

BTS‘ label HYBE, has revealed that the plan for the boyband to reunite in 2025 has not been confirmed.Earlier today, Bang made an appearance at the Gwanhun Forum, hosted by the Gwanhun Club, an association of senior journalists in Korea. During his time there, the HYBE chairman spoke about the company’s plans for BTS after the end of their mandatory military enlist, and revealed that the previously announced plan for the boyband to reunite in 2025 is not yet set in stone.“We said we ‘hope’ the members can resume in 2025, not ‘will’,” Bang clarified at the forum, per The Kpop Herald.

HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk has opened up about its battle against Kakao to acquire shares of K-pop agency SM Entertainment.Today (March 15), Bang delivered a keynote speech at the Gwanhun Forum, hosted by the Gwanhun Club, an association of senior journalists in Korea. Held at the Korean Press Center in Seoul, South Korea, the forum provided attendees the opportunity to gain insight into Bang and HYBE’s vision of the K-pop industry.During a Q&A session at the event, Bang opened up about HYBE’s recent attempt to acquire SM Entertainment, and its battle against South Korean internet giant Kakao over the K-pop agency.

Minhyuk, a member of the boyband MONSTA X, has confirmed that he’s set to enlist in the South Korean military very soon.Yesterday (March 13), the singer shared a handwritten letter, per TV Report, on the group’s fan cafe site to inform fans of his enlistment date. Under South Korean law, all able-bodied male citizens must serve a military term of 18-21 months.Minhyuk revealed that he will be enlisting on April 4, adding that he is already “feeling sad” about the situation.

Steel Panther guitarist Russ ‘Satchel’ Parrish has hit out at K-pop icons BTS, saying they make the “worst fucking music I’ve heard in my life”.The guitarist was talking to Classic Rock Magazine for a new Q&A, when he discussed how he found out about BTS.“Recently we went to Japan and I had a day to kill. I was trapped in my hotel room and somebody told me BTS had sold out the Raiders stadium where I live in Vegas,” he began.“I was like: ‘No fucking way can this be happening – and why?'” Satchel added, going on to reveal his first impressions upon hearing the band’s music.“I had to figure it out,” he said.

BTS member J-Hope has just become the first member of the K-Pop supergroup to achieve a solo entry in the Official Singles Chart Top 40. 

Suga of K-pop boyband BTS and soloist IU are reportedly set to reunite for yet another collaboration.Today (March 10), South Korean media outlet SpoTV News reported that the two K-pop idols are set to release a new song together. If true, it would be the duo’s second collaboration, following their 2020 song ‘eight’.Big Hit Music has since spoken out about the report in a statement to Sports Today, saying that it is currently “difficult to confirm” whether or not Suga and IU are working together on new music.Suga will be the first member of BTS to go on a solo world tour.

BTS member Suga has donated ₩1,000,000 (roughly US$76,000) to aid earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.Suga’s donation “for emergency relief in Turkey and Syria” was revealed by non-governmental organization Save The Children today (March 9), which is also the K-pop idol’s birthday, in a statement to South Korean media outlet OSEN.“So many children and families have suffered great damage from this earthquake,” Suga said, according to OSEN, as translated by Soompi. “I send my condolences to the survivors and victims.”“I hope that this becomes at least a bit of help to children affected by the earthquake and hope this [donation] is used to provide relief goods for children,” he added.

There’s no argument that BTS is one of the hottest pop groups in the world, which left fans shook when the K-pop superstars announced last year that that the members would taking a hiatus in order to focus on solo projects.

RM, the leader of K-pop boyband BTS, has opened up about how he’s getting to know himself again now that the group is on an extended break.BTS have been forced to go on a temporary break due to South Korea’s mandatory military service for all able-bodied males. But RM has taken advantage of this pause for the boyband to release his debut studio album ‘Indigo’ and travel the world.RM was recently in Spain in search for inspiration for a possible follow-up record.

VIXX rapper Ravi has admitted to recent charges of attempting evading military service.In January, The Korea Times reported that the 30-year-old idol had been identified by prosecutors as a possible client of a broker known as Mr Gu, who was indicted for helping men receive exemptions from South Korea’s compulsory military service by falsifying health records.Gu reportedly promoted his services by sharing that a famous idol rapper had utilised their service, and consequently received a grade IV in his fitness and health evaluation, allowing him to serve in the social services department instead of becoming an active duty soldier.Back in October 2022, Ravi had announced his enlistment as a social service worker due to unspecified “health reasons”.Following the news reports, Ravi’s self-founded agency GROOVL1N released a statement that it was “closely examining the truth about the situation”, adding that the idol would cooperate fully in the investigation. At the time, neither the agency nor Ravi confirmed or denied the claims of his alleged attempt to evade service.According to Newsis, Ravi admitted to violating South Korea’s Military Service Act at the Seoul Southern District Court on March 6.

BTS member Jin has shared a new photo with bandmates J-hope and Jimin while serving his mandatory military service.On Saturday (March 4), the K-pop idol returned to his personal Instagram account for the first time since beginning his mandatory military service last December. Dressed in his military uniform and sporting a short haircut, Jin posed between BTS bandmates J-hope and Jimin in the new photo.The singer then captioned the photo “welcome,” while J-hope shared a string of laughter and heart emojis in the post’s comments.A post shared by Jin of BTS (@jin)Just over a week ago, Big Hit Music shared that J-hope has recently begun his own enlistment process.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor K-Pop is facing a “very clear slowdown in growth” that has inspired his company’s expansion efforts in the U.S., Bang Si-Hyuk, chairman of HYBE, the company behind bands including BTS and other acts, told CNN’s Richard Quest in an interview published Sunday, as HYBE seeks to expand its holdings in the South Korean music market by acquiring a large stake in competitor SM. The genre, which has boomed globally over the past five years, “is not as hot in the market as you might perceive,” Bang said. “Globally, it’s not occupying much of the market. On the other hand, Latin music and Afrobeat are very rapidly growing. So being where we are, it is more urgent to increase the exposure. … Looking at our export indicators and streaming growth, the slowdown in growth is very clear.”

HYBE, home to popular K-pop legends BTS, recently flagged that the future may not be smooth-sailing for those involved in the K-pop industry. During a recent interview with CNN, Bang warned that K-pop is not “is not as hot in the market as you might perceive”, despite perceptions of the genre being a fast-rising commodity.“Globally, it’s not occupying much of the market.

Tamar Herman Last year, j-hope of BTS released the LP “Jack in the Box”and headlined Lollapalooza. It was the first drop from a member of the history-making group as BTS publicly announced that it would be transitioning temporarily from band releases to focusing on individual projects. With “Jack in the Box,” j-hope kicked off such a period of solo development with a dark, gritty exploration of his self and career. Now he’s back with a new single that further relays new facets of the much beloved K-pop star and his artistry, “on the street (with J. Cole).” A lo-fi hip-hop tune guided by a mesmerizing whistle melody performed by j-hope himself, “On the street (with J. Cole)” is a reflection of j-hope’s career and life thus far, looking towards the future while recalling the path he walked to get there, emphasizing his history as a street dancer prior to becoming a members of BTS. It arrives on the verge of j-hope taking a step out of the spotlight temporarily, soon enlisting in South Korea’s military, fulfilling the country’s mandatory draft service.   

Ashnikko has announced their debut album ‘WEEDKILLER’ and shared details of a huge world tour for 2023 – find all the details below.The album will be released on June 2 via Parlophone, and will be available to pre-order from today (March 2) at 6pm GMT from here.“My bioluminescent heart is glowing. My post-apocalyptic fae world is here for you to journey into,” Ashnikko shared in a statement.

J-Hope is preparing to enlist.

BTS singer J-Hope is the latest member of the band to begin the process of enlisting for mandatory military service in South Korea.