J-Hope to join South Korean army

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — J-Hope, a member of K-pop sensation BTS, entered a South Korean boot camp Tuesday to start his 18-month compulsory military service, becoming the group’s second member to join the country’s army.

In December, Jin, 30 and the oldest member of BTS, became the band’s first member to enter the ar-my after revoking his request to delay his conscription.

South Korean TV footage Tuesday afternoon showed what they called a black minivan likely carrying J-Hope moving into the boot camp in Wonju, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) east of Seoul. Hybe Corp., the parent company of BTS’ management agency Big Hit Music, later confirmed the 29-year-old singer entered the camp.

After arriving by hired buses decorated with prominent images of J-Hope and messages wishing for his safety while serving, dozens of fans descended upon the area surrounding the base. There were no initial reports of safety-related mishaps despite the fact that authorities summoned soldiers and police personnel to keep the peace. Fans refer to themselves as the “Army,” have been appealed with by Big Hit Music not to visit the location for safety reasons.

“I love you, Army. I’ll see you again,” J-Hope, whose real name is Jung Ho-seok, said Monday in a message posted on the online fan platform Weverse, with photos of himself with a military buzz cut.

Five other younger BTS members — RM, Suga, Jimin, V and Jungkook — are to join the South Korean mili-tary one by one in the coming years. That means the world’s biggest boy band is expected to reconvene as a group again a few years later.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required by law to perform 18-21 months of military service under a conscription system meant to deter aggression from rival North Korea.

The law gives special exemptions to athletes, classical and traditional musicians, and ballet and other dancers if they have obtained top prizes in certain competitions and are assessed to have enhanced na-tional prestige. K-pop stars and other entertainers aren’t subject to such privileges.