29 April,2024 03:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
BTS Pic/Facebook
South Korean boy band BTS' agency BigHit Music has taken the legal route to protect its members - RM, Suga, Jimin, Jin, V, J-hope, and Jungkook. The agency took to Weverse and posted a statement citing organisational efforts aimed at the artists to tarnish and slander their image.
The statement read, "Hello. This is BigHit Music. We wish to update you on the legal proceedings being taken to protect BTS members' rights. It has come to our attention that organizational efforts aimed at tarnishing and slandering the artists have escalated in recent weeks. Furthermore, malicious attempts to defame, humiliate and ridicule the artists or spread rumours and groundless information have become excessive."
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"The company views these actions as severe violation to the artists' rights and will respond decisively, engaging with another law firm to reinforce our existing legal measures. We are collecting evidence of malicious postings through real-time monitoring as we speak. We will maintain a zero-tolerance policy and pursue this matter rigorously, without leniency or settlements. Thank you," it added.
The seven-member team is currently on break as a group owing to their mandatory military service for the country. The members will gradually reunite as they all complete their service by 2025.
Jin, the eldest member of the group will be the first to discharge as he was the first one to enlist. Presently, Suga is fulfilling his social service duties due to a shoulder injury, while the other members are fulfilling their military service obligations.
J-hope is expected to finish his service in mid-October this year. Before his enlistment, he dropped his solo album 'Jack in the Box', featuring tracks such as 'Arson', 'More', and '=' (Equal Sign). Additionally, he released a documentary 'Hope on the Street', and the album for the same.
RM, Jimin, Jungkook, and V's discharge date is set for June 10, 2025.
For those unversed, the decision by BTS to enlist in the military helped avert a sticky situation for South Korea's government. Military service is compulsory for all able-bodied males under 30 years old. The current system allows for some exceptions on the grounds of exceptional service to the country. Some top athletes and classical musicians have been excused on this basis, but pop artists have not.