K-pop star Jin will be a torchbearer in the Olympics

At 31, Jin is the oldest member of the k-pop band and recently finished his 18-month military service. Now he will represent South Korea in the torch relay, and, according to a statement, hopes to spread the message of “harmony and peace”.

The torchbearers will tour various historical sites in the host country of France, but no further details have yet been revealed.

Two years ago, BTS shocked fans around the world when the seven members announced that they were going to join the military and thus take a break from their career – which has made them one of the world’s biggest boy bands.

All South Korean men must serve at least 18 months, including international pop stars – although the issue was up for debate at government level. Jin began his military service at a South Korean military camp in late 2022.

Five of the other BTS members, Jung Kook, V, Jimin, RM and J-Hope, have also enlisted in the South Korean armed forces – while Suga was found unfit and instead had to do a form of civil service unique to South Korea.

Several of them have released music as solo artists over the past year. On Wednesday, it became known that Jimin and Jung Kook will be seen in the travel series “Are You Sure?!”, which premieres on the Disney streaming service on August 8, reports LA Times.

BTS has stated that the group can only be reunited in 2025, when all seven will have finished their mandatory service.