Dear Gossips,
Imagine being the biggest act to ever come out of South Korea, with a catalogue of music that’s almost entirely in Korean; selling out multiple world tours, and about to embark on their biggest stadium tour yet, still heading towards a summit that was never thought possible for artists who don’t sing in English. And then getting stalled by a pandemic that shut down the planet.
Then, just as the world was opening up, they approached the age of requirement to serve in the military, resulting in a two and a half year pause at the height of their careers – a height no one before them had ever achieved. And again, remember, there was MORE TO DO. They had yet to peak! Which is a crazy thing to say because BTS was soaring!
Now though, on the eve of their anniversary, known as Festa to their fans, the ARMY, we’re almost there. Today in South Korea, Kim Namjoon and Kim Taehyung, aka RM and V, were officially discharged. Fans gathered at the meeting spot to greet them. They also gathered at their label headquarters. All around the world ARMY stayed up over night to watch the early footage of their re-entry into public life. Here’s a quick little montage of what that was like:
@itskathleenngo they are so unserious, welcome home tae & namjoon 🥹🫶🼠#btsenlistment #btsisback #namjoon #taehyung #btsarmy #bts_official_bighit #namjoonsaxophone #kpop
♬ Sweat and Hustle - The Brazilians of Bossa Nova
Yes, they are so unserious. But this is also very serious. Serving in the military in Korea is no f-cking joke and those who think it is don’t understand geopolitics. There’s a reason military service is mandatory and celebrities are not given exemptions. If BTS, the biggest band in the world, isn’t getting an exception, you should understand just how serious it is. Also, culturally, it is deeply frowned upon to not take this duty seriously. Instances of privilege do not play well in Korea – so it not only affects a person’s reputation as a citizen but there could be professional ramifications.
My point is that this was not a holiday, it was an experience that no other popstars of their status in the west could possibly relate to. This, in part, explains the emotion that RM showed today, considering what he and his bandmates have been through the last FIVE AND A HALF YEARS.
omg was namjoon holding back tears? he was so emotional ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ my baby, it must feel so overwhelming 🥹 #RM #김남준 #BTSareBACK
— Somâ· âŸâŸ¬E ARE B⟬âŸCK â‘.០(@dulcetbangtan) June 10, 2025
pic.twitter.com/5cWwoeXP5h
NAMJOON AT THE END:
— BTS Charts Daily (@btschartsdailyc) June 10, 2025
YAS FINALLY IM FREE ðŸ˜ðŸ’œ pic.twitter.com/vv9OfYA4b4
In both their speeches today, RM and V said that they couldn’t wait to get back out there, to make music again, to perform again. To meet their fans again. And as it always is where BTS is concerned, they went right back to work, livestreaming from headquarters…
OMG ITS BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE DIDNT HEAR NAM TALKING IN ENGLISH ðŸ˜ðŸ’œ pic.twitter.com/sS3VBkrDsB
— BTS Charts Daily (@btschartsdailyc) June 10, 2025
… with a Jin cameo! And bringing the comedy.
@mynameisjeff070 Jin got scared for a second 😠#fypシ #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #bts #bangtan #jin #namjoon #taehyung #discharge #weverse #live #fight #fit #gym #funny #video #viral
♬ HOME - BTS
No but seriously, they always come out of the military super jacked. This is why the K-drama stars always include a shirtless scene in their first dramas after their release – to document all that hard work, LOL.
Back to the livestreaming though, after a company party to celebrate their release, RM and V also livestreamed solo, perhaps from home. ARMY is losing it over how well V is filling in his t-shirt, haha.
HIS BEAUTY SMILE AND HIS MUSCLES OMGðŸ˜ðŸ”¥ pic.twitter.com/8NCpfU4vl6
— BTS Charts Daily (@btschartsdailyc) June 10, 2025
While RM decided it was time for some flair, in an animal print shirt on his stream talking about how long it’s been:
"Thank you for waiting for us. for 18 months. It’s a f** long time"
— BTS Charts Daily (@btschartsdailyc) June 10, 2025
HE IS SO REAL! 💜😠pic.twitter.com/RZwBLBowxS
Tomorrow it’s Jimin and Jungkook who’ll be released – so we get to do this all over again in 24 hours. And then, on June 21, Suga will be the last member of BTS to complete his service and it’ll be 7/7, the reunion we’ve all been waiting for. So that group shot? They know, they know the value of this upcoming group shot in just under two weeks. We are ready for this fan service!
Yours in gossip,
Lainey