BTS's Jin to join front-line boot camp on Dec. 13

Jin of BTS [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Jin, the first member of K-pop boy band BTS to join the army for their mandatory service, will be dispatched to a front-line boot camp north of Seoul on Dec. 13.

Jin will undergo a five-week training program at a division in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi, and later be assigned to a local unit, according to a report from Yonhap.

Jin, whose real name is Kim Seok-jin, is the eldest member of the seven-member boy band BTS. He turns 30 on Dec. 4.

Regarding Jin’s enrollment, HYBE on Thursday said it was “unable to confirm” the matter.

News of his enlistment went viral on Nov. 13 when he replied to a question about plans for his upcoming birthday, saying that he would be dispatched to a front-line boot camp.

Under the current law, all able-bodied Korean men must serve in the military for 18 months or more, depending on the service branch.

Later Thursday afternoon, Jin wrote on Weverse that he had not wanted news of his training to be reported, and asked fans to not come see him off as there would be others also starting training the same day and the military base could be crowded.

Jin recently released a solo song, “The Astronaut,” on Oct. 28 after BTS group activities were halted earlier in the year.

BY LEE JAE-LIM, LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]