Two members of K-pop supergroup BTS have been discharged from compulsory military service in South Korea and have announced that they want to start returning to showbiz again "as soon as possible."
BTS, South Korea's most lucrative music group, has been on hiatus since 2022 while its seven members perform their military service.
Hundreds of fans gathered at a venue near the two military bases where group leader RM - recently named "Favorite K-Pop Artist" at the American Music Awards - and singer V were separately demobilized.
Cheers of joy erupted as they exited their various vehicles and embraced, and RM played a quick song on saxophone as V stood by his side smiling, holding bouquets of flowers.
"What we want most now is to play again," RM, still in his Army uniform, told reporters and fans after his discharge.
"We are working hard on the new album so we can get back on stage as soon as possible," he added, as quoted by AFP.
RM said there had been "many difficult and painful moments" during his 18-month military service.
"Since I came back, I have become closer to my father and my old friends - many of whom had already retired from military service," he added.
V said that military service was "a time for me to readjust and rebuild both my body and my mind."
"Now that I've done that, I really want to run straight to ARMY as soon as possible," he said, referring to the group's official fan name.
This week, four BTS members will complete their service. Two of them were fired last year, and the final member, SUGA will return later this month. | BGNES