ＢＴＳジンさん兵役終了、メンバーが出迎え

【ソウルＡＦＰ＝時事】世界中で人気を集めるＫ－ＰＯＰグループ「ＢＴＳ（防弾少年団）」のメンバーで最年長のジンさんが１２日、兵役を終えて除隊した。ＡＦＰ記者が現場で確認した。ＢＴＳメンバーの兵役終了はジンさんが初。ジンさんは音楽活動を再開する。（写真は、兵役を終えて除隊し、手を振る「ＢＴＳ」のジンさん〈中央〉と出迎えたＲＭさん〈右〉。韓国・漣川郡の陸軍基地の外で）
　北朝鮮との緊張関係が続く韓国では、３０歳未満の健康な男性全員に１８か月以上の兵役が義務付けられている。ＢＴＳのメンバー７人は２０２２年以降、兵役に就き、「活動休止」を発表していた。
　ジンさんが北部・漣川郡にある陸軍基地の門から姿を現すと、駆け付けたメンバーのＪ－ＨＯＰＥ（ジェイホープ）さん、Ｖ（ブイ）さん、ＲＭ（アールエム）さん、ジョングクさん、ジミンさんの出迎えを受けた。
　ＲＭさんはサックスでＢＴＳの大ヒット曲「Ｄｙｎａｍｉｔｅ」を演奏し、メンバーらはジンさんをハグして大きな花束を贈った。
　一方、ファンは基地の前で色とりどりの横断幕を掲げ、ジンさんの本名を入れて「ソクジン、５４８日間よく頑張ったね。私たちはずっと変わらずにあなたを応援します」などのメッセージを送った。大きな風船が飛ぶ中、「ワールドワイド・ハンサム（世界的なイケメン）ソクジン！ 除隊おめでとう」というメッセージを掲げるファンもいた。
　漣川郡も独自に、「ＢＴＳのジンさん、この１年半は私たちにとって喜びでした。漣川はあなたを忘れません！」というメッセージを掲げた。
　ファンには現地に集まらないよう呼び掛けられていたことから、１２日早朝時点では基地の前には数人のファンしかいなかった。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/06/12-17:07）

K-pop megastar Jin from BTS ended more than 500 days of South Korean military service on Wednesday, crying tears of joy, with bandmates embracing him and one belting out a group hit on the saxophone to celebrate.
The seven members of the world's most popular boy band have been on a self-described hiatus since 2022 due to their military service, which South Korea requires of all men under 30 due to tensions with the nuclear-armed North.
Jin, the oldest in the group and the first to enlist, emerged from the gates of his army base in South Korea's northern Yeoncheon county early Wednesday, where he was met by bandmates J-hope, V, RM, Jungkook and Jimin.
The K-pop stars, who have reportedly taken leave from duties to mark the day, presented a beaming Jin, still in his military uniform, with a giant bouquet of flowers, as they all hugged while RM played the saxophone, blasting out the hook of BTS's mega-hit Dynamite.
Fans had hung colourful banners outside the base, with one reading: Seok-jin you did so well for the last 548 days. We'll stand by you with our unwavering love, referring to the singer by his full first name.
A giant balloon flew in front with the message: Worldwide handsome Seok-jin! Congratulations on your discharge.
Yeoncheon county put up its own banner that read: BTS Jin, The last year and a half was a joy for us. Yeoncheon will not forget you!
Fans had been urged not to show up, and there were only a couple of admirers present early Wednesday outside the base.
Although my hands were shaking and my muscles stiffened, I was so happy to see him, said Natose Sunagawa, a 19-year-old from Tokyo.
Holding a plush doll of Jin, and with a keyring of Jin's face on her purse, she said she came because she wanted to meet him so bad.
As all BTS members haven't finished their military service, I believe Jin will release solo materials. I wish to buy his solo albums and go to the concerts, said Sunagawa, wiping away her tears.
- 'Huggathon' -
BTS's official account on X posted a picture of the entire group celebrating Jin's discharge with a cake.
I'm normally more handsome than this, but I cried when I was discharged. My eyes are puffy. I usually have confidence in my face, but I'm less confident today, said Jin in a livestream on Weverse, a superfan social media platform.
Showing off his certificates and commendations, Jin mentioned that he did well during his service and cried twice because he was so happy to be home.
His release comes just ahead of the 11th anniversary of the group's debut, with their agency HYBE's office in Seoul plus some local cafes decked out in purple decorations to mark the occasion.
Jin will participate in a huggathon on Thursday, where he will hug 1,000 fans who won a raffle held on Weverse, before giving his first performance in two years.
Jin said on Weverse that the huggathon was his idea, and that he had initially wanted to hug 3000 fans but had to agree to a smaller number after HYBE cited safety concerns.
It is significant that Jin did his military service without any problem, since for a K-pop male idol serving in the military is the biggest issue for their career, said Yoo Sung-man, an analyst at Leading Investment and Securities.
Jin's discharge is a positive sign for entertainment stock prices, he added.
HYBE stock price has been hit by a dispute with superproducer Min Hee-jin, the mastermind behind girlband NewJeans.
Once Jin resumes his solo performances it will definitely lead to an increase (in stock price), Yoo told AFP.
HYBE's share price was up two percent in early trading Wednesday.
BTS accounts for a large proportion of profit in HYBE, it is very encouraging that the discharge of BTS members has begun, said Yoo.
The next BTS member to finish will be J-hope, who will be discharged in October. The rest of the band will complete their service in June 2025.