Rapper Suga from K-pop sensation BTS has been discharged from the South Korean military.
He is the seventh and final member to complete the country's mandatory national service.
Fans are looking forward to a reunion later this year, but no events were planned for the day of Suga's release over the weekend due to fears of overcrowding.
Suga completed his military tenure as a social service agent, reportedly due to a shoulder injury.
The other six members of BTS — RM, V, Jimin, Jungkook, Jin and J-Hope — served in the army.
RM, V, Jimin and Jungkook were discharged earlier this month.
The eldest BTS member Jin, was discharged in June last year, as was J-Hope in October.
Military service compulsory to deter North Korea
All able-bodied men in South Korea aged 18 to 28 are required by law to perform 18-21 months of military service under a conscription system meant to deter aggression from North Korea.
Special exemptions are given to athletes, classical and traditional musicians, and ballet and other dancers if they've been awarded top prizes and are considered to have enhanced national prestige.
K-pop stars are not exempt from military service but in 2020, the members of BTS postponed their enlistment until age 30 after South Korea's National Assembly revised its Military Service Act.
There was heated public debate in 2022 over whether to offer special exemptions to members of BTS.
The group tiered their enlistments, which meant members could focus on solo projects while the group was on hiatus, which they did.
Suga released his debut solo album D-Day in 2023 under his moniker Agust D.
Suga is also making news because, shortly after his official discharge, he apologised to fans on the platform Weverse for an incident last year in which he was fined 15 million won ($16,900) by a court for drunk driving while on an electric scooter.
"I am deeply sorry," he said.
"I truly regret that I have disappointed many fans and many people.
"I will sincerely participate in the investigation."
Fans eagerly await reunion
BTS is short for Bangtan Sonyeondan, which translates to Bulletproof Boy Scouts in English.
The group debuted in June 2013 with the album 2 Cool 4 Skool but released three full-length projects before they gained momentum with their 2016 album Wings.
They were the first Korean boy band to enter the Billboard Hot 100 charts, with their global breakthrough DNA in 2017.
They were also the first all-South Korean music act to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2020 with the five-times platinum Dynamite, their first all-English single.
They have been certified platinum many times over and have been nominated for five Grammys. Their first nomination, for Dynamite, in the best pop duo/group performance category, marked the first time a K-pop act received a Grammy nod.
Fans of BTS are anticipating a reunion now that the group can work together again as a unit.
ABC/Wires
