“WE HAVE A PIC OF 31 YEARS OLD YOONGI”: Internet frenzied as BTS’ Suga gathers with his members for Jin’s post-military discharge livestream

BTS' Suga made waves online as the group's eldest member, Kim Seok-jin, was officially discharged from the South Korean military on June 12, 2024, after completing 18 months of mandatory service. As expected by the fans, all BTS members showed up outside his military base to welcome him. South Korean media outlets Dispatch, SBS News, AFP News, and others streamed Jin's discharge LIVE from the military base on their respective YouTube channels.

BTS members Kim Namjoon (RM), Jung Hoseok (j-hope), and Kim Taehyung (V) were the first to receive the Epiphany singer-songwriter. Following them, Park Jimin and Jeon Jungkook reached in their military uniforms to greet and welcome their eldest member home. It is crucial to note that all six members currently serving in the military took sanctioned leaves to attend Jin's discharge ceremony.

However, fans noticed Min Yoongi, aka Suga, was nowhere to be seen outside the military compound. Some speculated that he must have been waiting patiently in the car since his military enlistment category differs from the rest. Due to his shoulder injury, Suga enlisted as a social service employee in September 2023 and would have to serve 21 months, unlike the rest of his members.

Nevertheless, he joined the group after Jin's Weverse livestream, which the Moon singer held immediately after discharge. Jin and his bandmates drove to HYBE from the military base in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi province. After reaching HYBE, he came LIVE on Weverse in his uniform to meet his fans. Later, BIGHIT MUSIC officially posted a group photo of BTS on its official X account.

Fans were thrilled to see Yoongi, aka Suga—who turned 31 on March 9, 2024—in the picture, and one fan wrote,

"WE HAVE A PIC OF 31 YEARS OLD YOONGI"

Fans took social media by storm as the picture went viral online within a few minutes. BTS ARMY went into an online meltdown to see the AMYGDALA rapper-songwriter after so long since the musician had been carrying out his conscription discreetly.

"HE'S ALIVE AND REAL OH MY GOD I MISSED HIM" — an X user wrote.

"THE WAY I SCREAMED WHEN I SAW HIM ON THE PICTURE LIKE" — an X user wrote.

"The way I was literally looking for Yoongi and became so sad to not see him at the venue after so long and then saw him with the boys made me cry" — an X user wrote.

"I love how we Yoongi stans quite literally just had their whole lives changed cuz of this picture" — an X user wrote.

Several ARMY highlighted how the entire fandom knew that Yoongi would never miss Jin's discharge ceremony, while others expressed feeling overwhelmed to see his face after a long time.

"Even if it's all we get until he's discharged next year, i'll treasure this precious sight of him. I head counted the group pic twice & my brain wondered if I was hallucinating before it finally accepted it was really him" — an X user wrote.

"Yoongi can't miss out his only hyung's discharge from military" — an X user wrote.

"The amount of times I just know he sat in his little cubicle cussing out excel. Yoongis such a hard worker" — an X user wrote.

"It is so unreal for me to see yoongi after ages. It feels like it has been 100 years that I saw him last. I can’t explain how I’m feeling right now to see him with the rest of the BTS members. Suddenly my heart feels warm and my home feels like home. Yoongi I have missed a lot." — an X user wrote.

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BTS Suga delighted fans with his latest picture with his members during Jin's military discharge ceremony

Suga enlisted on September 22, 2023, as a social service employee in the South Korean military. He had kept a low profile and shared no updates about his ongoing service, which further made his fans extremely curious about his well-being. However, Suga showed up to receive Jin along with his bandmates. Suga will be discharged in June 2025 after completing 21 months of service.

At a military camp in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi province, television footage and YouTube livestreams by South Korean media outlets showed Jin crying as he hugged his military comrades one last time. Namjoon was seen playing the group's song Dynamite on a saxophone as he met Jin outside the base, making the clip go viral online.

As requested by both Jin and BIGHIT MUSIC (under HYBE), fans didn't show up outside the base, although throngs of reporters were stationed to capture the breaking news. However, as the members reached the HYBE building, large crowds gathered outside the company, requiring police intervention to maintain order. They all welcomed Jin after his 18 months of service to his nation.

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The band is anticipated to reconvene in 2025 following the completion of service by its final five members—Namjoon, Suga, Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook—who started their service in December 2023. Meanwhile, j-hope will return from the military in October 2024.