(LEAD) BTS' J-Hope to begin military service

(ATTN: UPDATES with new message from J-Hope in paras 6-7; ADDS photo)

SEOUL, April 18 (Yonhap) -- J-Hope of the K-pop supergroup BTS will enter military service Tuesday to become the second member of the group to do so, sources in the music industry said.

The sources said the 29-year-old will begin five weeks' basic training at an Army boot camp in Gangwon Province.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required to serve in the military for about two years.

The group's agency, BigHit Music, however, has not disclosed the date and location of his enlistment.

He will become the second BTS member to enroll in the military, following the oldest member, Jin, who began his military service in December.

J-Hope took to Hybe's Weverse fan community platform to share with fans a message and a photo of himself giving a salute with a buzz cut on Monday night.

"I love you all. ARMY, I will return safely," he wrote, addressing the band's global fandom by name.

On April 1, the agency posted a notice on the platform, saying that the star will fulfill his mandatory service as an active-duty soldier in the Army, but there will be no ceremony for fans on the day of his entry.

He hosted his last live stream on Weverse on Friday to bid farewell to his fans.

"Don't worry too much because I'll come back safely (from the military)," he said. "I had the feeling of 'what am I gonna do?' a week ago, but now I'm so fine that I'm even wondering if it's okay to feel this way."

sshim@yna.co.kr
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