BTS members to do military service in South Korea

Members of the K-pop band BTS are to fulfil their requirement to do military service in South Korea, their representatives say.

Label Big Hit Music said it was proud to make the announcement and that the members of BTS are "honored to serve" their country, Sky News reports.

The band - RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook - will reconvene "around 2025" following their service commitment, the company said in a statement to Sky News.

All able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 28 in South Korea must perform between 18 and 21 months of military service.

However, exemptions are made for athletes, classical and traditional musicians and dancers who have won top prizes in competitions which boost the prestige of the country.

In 2020, South Korea's parliament passed a bill which allowed K-pop stars such as BTS to delay the upper age bracket for national service to 30, and there have been ongoing talks about whether the band should be exempt.

However, they are now "moving forward with plans" to fulfil their service, Big Hit Music said.

The oldest member of the group, Jin, aged 29, will be the first to start.

"Group member Jin will initiate the process as soon as his schedule for his solo release is concluded at the end of October," the statement said. "He will then follow the enlistment procedure of the Korean government.

"Other members of the group plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans."

The company added, "Both the company and the members of BTS are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment."

The announcement comes after the band reunited at the weekend for a performance in the South Korean city of Busan to support its bid for World Expo 2030.