BTS member RM recently announced his intention to join South Korea's mandatory military service in the near future. The news comes as the band's members gathered to bid farewell to J-Hope, who recently enlisted and began his five-week basic military training at the New Recruit Training Center Division A in Gangwon-do, South Korea.
In a Weverse live session from two weeks ago that has resurfaced online, RM, 28, shared that he initially planned to enlist simultaneously with J-Hope but had to postpone due to a project. "I was actually planning to enlist around the same time as J-Hope, but I had to push it back because of this project. I think I will go after I complete this," he said, as translated by AllKpop.
The specific project the BTS leader mentioned remains unknown, but he previously visited Spain seeking inspiration for a potential second solo album, according to an interview with Spanish media outlet Efe.
RM expressed his admiration for Spain's art and culture, stating, "I came to Spain because of my love of its art, and if someone learns about my country's culture through my songs, it is an honor that makes me happy."
In December, RM made his solo debut with the album "Indigo," which reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart during its second non-consecutive week, making him the first South Korean solo artist to achieve a top-three ranking on the chart.
So far, only two BTS members, Jin and J-Hope, have started their military service since the band began its indefinite hiatus in June 2022. Both are expected to complete their service in 18 months.
The remaining members-Jimin, V, Suga, and Jungkook-have not yet disclosed their military enlistment plans, as they continue to work on solo projects. Jimin released "Face" in March, and Suga is preparing to launch his studio album "D-Day" on Friday before embarking on his solo Agust D Tour across North America and Asia, starting with a two-night performance at the UBS Arena in Belmont Park, New York, on April 26 and 27.
