BTS RM and V Reflect on Military Service Journey
K-pop sensations BTS members RM and V recently opened up about their experiences during their 18-month military service. Their reflections reveal how military life profoundly shaped their perspectives and personal growth. RM and V were discharged on June 10, after enlisting on December 11, 2023.
Both idols served in distinct roles within the army. RM was part of the 15th Infantry Division band stationed in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, while V joined the 2nd Army Corps Military Police Special Duty Team. Upon discharge, they connected with fans through a live broadcast on the Weverse platform to share heartfelt moments from their service.
Emotional Reflections from RM and V
RM expressed the emotional toll of his military duties. “I came back from vacation and went for two weeks without eating lunch and climbing stairs. Yesterday, I was talking to my juniors and I lay down around 2 a.m. and I started crying. That’s why my face is so swollen,” he shared, according to local reports. He added, “I felt all the joys and sorrows of a human being yesterday. I felt a little emotional thinking about my juniors. It wasn’t just happy, I felt a variety of emotions.”
V also revealed how the military affected him emotionally. “I cried a little when my seniors were discharged, but I didn’t cry when I was discharged. We talked a lot about these guys’ dreams. After living there for a year and a half, I truly supported their dreams and wondered if there was anything I could do to help them.”
Military Service Like Being a Trainee Again
RM compared his military service to starting anew as a trainee. “It felt like I was a trainee again. When I was 17, I first moved into a dorm in Nonhyeon-dong [in Seoul] and lived with 30 people, so doing it again when I was 30, it felt like I was a trainee again,” he said. This fresh start included adjusting to a stricter environment. “Before I enlisted, I had never been scolded much, but as soon as I entered the military, I got scolded a lot and experienced that, like letting everything go and starting over again.
“I became really close with my friends who had served in the military. It wasn’t always fun and enjoyable, but that’s what it is. But after I did it, I thought a lot, ‘So everyone did this. While we were having fun in society, someone was here doing this.’ It was a time when I could think about a lot of things I hadn’t thought about before,” RM added.
V echoed similar sentiments, saying, “Of course, there were difficult parts during my military service, but the best part was meeting new friends, hearing their various life stories, and sharing stories, making memories I’ve never had before.”
Looking Ahead: BTS’s Return to Music
At a media gathering held at Sinbuk-eup Sports Park in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, RM expressed his eagerness to get back to performing. “I want to perform the most. I will quickly make an album and return to the stage,” he declared.
All BTS members are expected to complete their military service by June 21. Jin, who enlisted in December 2022, was discharged last June, followed by J-Hope in October. Jimin and Jungkook will be discharged on June 11, and Suga will finish on June 21. Fans worldwide eagerly anticipate their full reunion and upcoming performances.
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