On the morning of June 11, global superstars Jimin and Jungkook of BTS officially completed their mandatory military service. The two appeared before fans and the media around 8 a.m. at the public stadium in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, near the unit where they had served.
Stepping out of their vehicle to loud cheers, the pair received flower bouquets with bright smiles. Turning to the crowd of fans and reporters, they stood proudly and gave a salute, declaring “Unity” as they announced their discharge.
Jimin expressed his gratitude by saying, “From COVID-19 to the military, it has been quite a long journey. Thank you so much for waiting. Now that I have been discharged, we will get back to painting the picture we have been envisioning. We will prepare well and show you.”
He added, “Having experienced it myself, I realized the military is not an easy place. There are many who are enduring hardship. If citizens see soldiers on the street, even a few kind words would mean a lot.”
Jungkook, visibly emotional, said, “It has been a while since I have stood in front of cameras, and I did not even put on makeup so I am not sure what to say. I want to thank my fellow soldiers and superiors who went through a lot with us. I am truly grateful for how well they looked after us.” After sharing their thoughts, the two waved to fans, got back into their vehicle, and left the scene.
Despite the early hour, the area around the stadium was filled with celebration. Giant air balloons floated in the sky bearing messages like “Together Again With Jimin” and “We Missed You Jungkook Congratulations on Your Discharge.” Banners read, “Thank You Yeoncheon for Taking Care of Jungkook” and “Congrats to Jimin on Becoming a Civilian Again.”
From about 10 kilometers away, street lamps were decorated with placards reading “A Purple Return Time to Fly Again” and “Congratulations on Your Discharge,” creating a festive atmosphere. Over 100 local and international media representatives gathered in anticipation of Jimin and Jungkook’s appearance.
While their agency BigHit Music had requested fans refrain from visiting in person, hundreds of ARMY from Asia, South America, and Europe arrived at the venue as early as dawn. Fans held placards with messages like “Waiting Was a Joy Because It Was You Now Let’s Be Together Forever” and filmed the scene with their phones.
Anaisa Silva aged 30 from Portugal said, “All my friends are BTS fans. We came together to celebrate Jimin’s discharge. I want to tell him, ‘You did so well for all that time. Congratulations.’”
Yang Woo Hoon aged 20 a Chinese student studying in Korea tearfully said, “I missed Jungkook so much. I will not be able to attend the concert on the 13th due to exams, but I really want to go to the next one. Congratulations on your discharge.”
Daphne aged 29 from Brazil arrived at the venue around 4 a.m. saying, “I got up early to celebrate. Some fans even came the day before.” With fans crowding around, tensions briefly rose when some climbed ladders for a better view prompting others to ask not to block the sightlines.
To manage the crowd and ensure safety, over 30 police officers were deployed along with traffic controls in the area. Fans who could not make it to the discharge site gathered in front of HYBE headquarters in Yongsan Seoul turning the area into a mini concert-like scene with both local and international ARMY in attendance.
Jimin and Jungkook’s discharge follows RM and V who were released from service the day before. With their return, BTS is expected to soon resume full group activities. Once SUGA completes his alternative service on June 21, all BTS members will have fulfilled their military duties. Jin and J-Hope, already discharged, are currently pursuing solo projects.
To celebrate their 12th anniversary, BTS and BigHit Music will host the ‘2025 BTS FESTA’ on June 13 to 14 at KINTEX in Goyang. This annual event has marked BTS’s debut since 2014.
On June 9, HYBE wrapped its headquarters in Yongsan with the BTS and ARMY logos along with the message “WE ARE BACK” commemorating both the FESTA and the members’ return. The display will remain until June 29.
Meanwhile, J-Hope is set to hold the final performances of his tour ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE FINAL’ on June 13 and 14 at Goyang Stadium. Many fans speculate that other BTS members may make surprise appearances either at the FESTA or J-Hope’s concert.
SEE ALSO: BTS RM and V discharged, 1,500 fans gather at HYBE headquarters
