Four members of the popular K-pop group BTS, namely RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, have started the process of enlisting in the military. In South Korea, it is mandatory for most able-bodied men to serve in the military, just like the three older members of the band who are currently serving. The group is expected to reunite in 2025. The label, Big Hit Music, has requested fans to continue supporting the members until they safely return from their military service.

This announcement follows the enlistment of Jin last year and J-Hope in April. Suga, another member, has started his service as a social service agent due to being deemed unfit for regular combat duty. In June, BTS went on a hiatus to allow all the members to fulfill their military obligations. Prior to this, there was a long-standing debate on whether BTS should be exempted from military service due to their significant contributions to the country’s economy and the promotion of South Korea’s image globally.

Unlike certain individuals such as Olympic medal-winning athletes and classical musicians, K-pop stars are not exempted from military service in South Korea. In September, it was confirmed that all seven members of BTS had renewed their contracts with their music label. This news comes as a relief to fans who were concerned about the future of the group.

Overall, the enlistment of RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook marks an important milestone in the careers of these BTS members. While they are fulfilling their military duties, fans are encouraged to continue supporting them. The anticipation for their reunion in 2025 is high, and the group’s continued success in the music industry is eagerly awaited.

Original news source: BTS’s RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook begin military enlistment process (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary

Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Provide each group with a copy of the article.
3. Instruct the groups to read the article and summarize the main points in a few sentences.
4. After they have finished, have each group share their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll

Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Ask each group to come up with a question related to the article that they would like to ask their classmates.
3. Give the groups a few minutes to discuss and refine their questions.
4. Have each group take turns asking their question and collecting responses from the rest of the class.
5. Facilitate a class discussion based on the poll results.

– Vocabulary Pictionary

Instructions:
1. Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board or prepare flashcards with the words.
2. Divide the class into teams.
3. Call out one word at a time and have one member from each team come up to the board and draw a picture to represent the word.
4. The other members of the team must guess the word based on the drawing.
5. Each team earns a point for each correct guess.
6. Repeat with different words until all teams have had a chance to participate.

– Headline Creation

Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Instruct each group to come up with a catchy headline for the article.
3. Give the groups a few minutes to brainstorm and write their headlines.
4. Have each group share their headline with the class and explain their reasoning behind it.
5. Facilitate a class discussion on the different headlines and the impact they have on attracting readers.

– Future Predictions

Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Instruct each group to discuss and make predictions about what will happen to BTS and their music career after they complete their military service.
3. Give the groups a few minutes to share their predictions with each other.
4. Have each group share their predictions with the class and explain their reasoning behind them.
5. Facilitate a class discussion on the different predictions and the factors that may influence BTS’s future success.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Who are the four members of BTS that have started the process of enlisting in the military?
2. Why is it mandatory for most able-bodied men in South Korea to serve in the military?
3. When is the group expected to reunite?
4. What has the label, Big Hit Music, requested fans to do?
5. Who are the two members of BTS who have already enlisted?
6. What is Suga’s role in the military?
7. Why was there a debate about whether BTS should be exempted from military service?
8. What is the significance of all seven members of BTS renewing their contracts with their music label?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Four members of the (1)______ K-pop group BTS, namely RM, (2)______, V, and Jung Kook, have started the process of enlisting in the military. In South Korea, it is (3)______ for most able-bodied men to serve in the military, just like the three older members of the band who are currently serving. The group is expected to reunite in 2025. The label, Big Hit Music, has (4)______ fans to continue supporting the members until they safely (5)______ from their military service.

This announcement follows the enlistment of Jin last year and J-Hope in April. Suga, another member, has started his service as a (6)______ service agent due to being (7)______ unfit for regular (8)______ duty. In June, BTS went on a hiatus to allow all the members to fulfill their military obligations. Prior to this, there was a long-standing debate on whether BTS should be exempted from military service due to their significant contributions to the country’s economy and the promotion of (9)______ Korea’s image globally.

Unlike certain individuals such as (10)______ medal-winning athletes and classical musicians, K-pop (11)______ are not exempted from military service in South Korea. In September, it was confirmed that all seven members of BTS had (12)______ their contracts with their music label. This news comes as a relief to fans who were (13)______ about the future of the group.

Overall, the enlistment of RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook marks an important milestone in the careers of these BTS members. While they are fulfilling their (14)______ duties, fans are encouraged to continue supporting them. The (15)______ for their reunion in 2025 is high, and the group’s continued success in the music (16)______ is eagerly awaited.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on mandatory military service?
2. How would you feel if you were a member of BTS and had to leave the group to serve in the military?
3. Do you think K-pop stars should be exempted from military service? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about the debate surrounding BTS’s exemption from military service?
5. How do you think the enlistment of RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook will impact the group’s popularity?
6. What is a social service agent? Do you think it’s a suitable alternative for those deemed unfit for regular combat duty?
7. How important do you think BTS’s contributions to the country’s economy and the promotion of South Korea’s image are?
8. How do you think the members of BTS feel about serving in the military? Why?
9. Do you think fans will continue to support BTS during their military service? Why or why not?
10. How do you think the group’s hiatus will affect their music and career?
11. What do you think about the fact that K-pop stars are not exempted from military service, while other individuals like Olympic athletes and classical musicians are?
12. How do you think the enlistment of all the members of BTS will affect the group’s dynamics and music style?
13. Do you like BTS? If so, how do you feel about their enlistment in the military?
14. How do you think the group’s reunion in 2025 will be received by fans and the music industry?
15. What impact do you think BTS’s continued success in the music industry will have on South Korea’s image globally?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. BTS
2. military
3. enlistment
4. mandatory
5. service
6. obligations
7. exemption
8. reunion

Meanings:
(a) Popular K-pop group consisting of seven members
(b) Coming together again after a period of separation
(c) The act of serving in the military
(d) The act of joining the military
(e) Duties or responsibilities that must be fulfilled
(f) Being excused or freed from a requirement
(g) The armed forces of a country
(h) Required or obligatory
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Which members of BTS have started the process of enlisting in the military?
(a) Jin, J-Hope, Suga, and Jimin
(b) RM, Jin, Suga, and V
(c) J-Hope, Suga, V, and Jung Kook
(d) RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook

2. Why did Suga start his military service as a social service agent?
(a) He wanted to serve in a different capacity
(b) He was exempted from military service
(c) He was deemed unfit for regular combat duty
(d) He completed his military service early

3. Are K-pop stars exempted from military service in South Korea?
(a) No
(b) Yes
(c) Only if they have significant contributions to the country’s economy
(d) Only if they are classical musicians

4. When is BTS expected to reunite?
(a) 2022
(b) 2025
(c) 2023
(d) 2024

5. What is the name of BTS’s music label?
(a) Big Hit Music
(b) SM Entertainment
(c) JYP Entertainment
(d) YG Entertainment

6. How many members of BTS have renewed their contracts with their music label?
(a) 4
(b) 5
(c) 7
(d) 6

7. What was the reason for BTS going on a hiatus in June?
(a) To focus on solo projects
(b) To take a break from their busy schedule
(c) To prepare for their upcoming album
(d) To fulfill their military obligations

8. What is the reaction of fans to the news of BTS members enlisting in the military?
(a) They are disappointed and upset
(b) They are encouraged to continue supporting them
(c) They are relieved and excited
(d) They are indifferent and uninterested

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Only three members of the K-pop group BTS have started the process of enlisting in the military.
2. The label, Big Hit Music, has requested fans to continue supporting the members until they safely return from their military service.
3. Jin and J-Hope have already enlisted in the military.
4. The three older members of BTS are currently serving in the military.
5. Suga has not started his service as a social service agent.
6. The group is not expected to reunite in 2025.
7. Not all seven members of BTS have renewed their contracts with their music label.
8. It is mandatory for most able-bodied men in South Korea to serve in the military.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Why is it mandatory for most able-bodied men in South Korea to serve in the military?
2. How many members of BTS have already enlisted in the military?
3. Why did Suga start his military service as a social service agent?
4. What was the debate surrounding whether BTS should be exempted from military service?
5. How did fans react to the news that all seven members of BTS had renewed their contracts?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who are the four members of BTS that have started the process of enlisting in the military?
RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook.

2. Why is it mandatory for most able-bodied men in South Korea to serve in the military?
It is mandatory to ensure national defense and security.

3. When is the group expected to reunite?
In 2025.

4. What has the label, Big Hit Music, requested fans to do?
They have requested fans to continue supporting the members until they safely return from their military service.

5. Who are the two members of BTS who have already enlisted?
Jin and J-Hope.

6. What is Suga’s role in the military?
Suga is serving as a social service agent due to being deemed unfit for regular combat duty.

7. Why was there a debate about whether BTS should be exempted from military service?
There was a debate due to BTS’s significant contributions to the country’s economy and the promotion of South Korea’s image globally.

8. What is the significance of all seven members of BTS renewing their contracts with their music label?
It ensures the future of the group and provides relief to fans who were concerned about their future.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) popular
(2) Jimin
(3) mandatory
(4) requested
(5) return
(6) social
(7) deemed
(8) combat
(9) South
(10) Olympic
(11) stars
(12) renewed
(13) concerned
(14) military
(15) anticipation
(16) industry
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. BTS
Answer: (a) Popular K-pop group consisting of seven members

2. military
Answer: (g) The armed forces of a country

3. enlistment
Answer: (d) The act of joining the military

4. mandatory
Answer: (h) Required or obligatory

5. service
Answer: (c) The act of serving in the military

6. obligations
Answer: (e) Duties or responsibilities that must be fulfilled

7. exemption
Answer: (f) Being excused or freed from a requirement

8. reunion
Answer: (b) Coming together again after a period of separation
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Which members of BTS have started the process of enlisting in the military?
Answer: (d) RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook

2. Why did Suga start his military service as a social service agent?
Answer: (c) He was deemed unfit for regular combat duty

3. Are K-pop stars exempted from military service in South Korea?
Answer: (a) No

4. When is BTS expected to reunite?
Answer: (b) 2025

5. What is the name of BTS’s music label?
Answer: (a) Big Hit Music

6. How many members of BTS have renewed their contracts with their music label?
Answer: (c) 7

7. What was the reason for BTS going on a hiatus in June?
Answer: (d) To fulfill their military obligations

8. What is the reaction of fans to the news of BTS members enlisting in the military?
Answer: (b) They are encouraged to continue supporting them
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Only three members of the K-pop group BTS have started the process of enlisting in the military. (Answer: False)
2. The label, Big Hit Music, has requested fans to continue supporting the members until they safely return from their military service. (Answer: True)
3. Jin and J-Hope have already enlisted in the military. (Answer: True)
4. The three older members of BTS are currently serving in the military. (Answer: True)
5. Suga has not started his service as a social service agent. (Answer: False)
6. The group is not expected to reunite in 2025. (Answer: False)
7. Not all seven members of BTS have renewed their contracts with their music label. (Answer: False)
8. It is mandatory for most able-bodied men in South Korea to serve in the military. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧