BTS: From Bulletproof Boy Scouts to Global Superstars: The Rise and Return of K-Pops Iconic Group

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — It's official. All seven members of the massively popular K-pop group BTS have completed South Korea's mandatory military service. Rapper Suga was the last of the bandmates to be released on Wednesday from his duties as a social service agent, an alternative to serving in the military that he reportedly chose due to a shoulder injury.

The six other members of BTS — RM, V, Jimin, Jung Kook, Jin, and j-hope — served in the army. Earlier this month, four members of BTS — RM, V, Jimin, and Jung Kook — were discharged from South Korea's mandatory military service. Jin, the eldest BTS member, was discharged in June 2024, and j-hope in October.

BTS is expected to reunite later this year. Ahead of that highly anticipated homecoming, here's what you need to know about the group:

The Rise of BTS BTS — short for Bangtan Sonyeondan, or "Bulletproof Boy Scouts" in Korean — debuted in June 2013 under the company Big Hit Entertainment, now known as HYBE. The seven-member group consists of RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook.

The group launched in 2013 with the hip-hop heavy single album "2 Cool 4 Skool," releasing three full-length projects before really gaining momentum with their 2016 album "Wings." Their global breakthrough came in 2017 when "DNA" entered the Billboard Hot 100, making BTS the first Korean boy band to achieve such a feat. The song's success was followed by a performance at the American Music Awards, further fueling their international fan base.

The band is largely credited with bringing K-pop to the international stage, and with good reason. Across their discography, BTS broke boundaries and records: In 2020, they released the five-time platinum "Dynamite," their first all-English single, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — a first for an all-South Korean musical act.

At the height of their popularity, BTS was not only the biggest K-pop group on the planet but the biggest boy band overall. They've been certified platinum many times over by The Recording Industry Association of America. Their platinum successes include:

• 2018's "Mic Drop"
• 2020's "Map of the Soul: 7," "Love Yourself: Answer," and "Idol"
• 2021's "Be" and song of the summer "Butter"
• High-profile collaborations such as "My Universe" with Coldplay and "Boy With Luv" featuring Halsey