For a few reasons, I get the feel that Namjoon is in the process of waiting for his enlistment call just like we r dreading the BigHit notice, and granted, I know jackshit about the South Korean enlistment process and ofc this is all just guesswork, but I needed a space to put down my thoughts lol and maybe get some of ur thoughts as well! So here are the reasons:
His most recent instagram post with that cryptic caption “expect the unexpected” (…like…??)
His interview with Colde today where he said he’s only been working on his album lately but he doesn’t think it’s going to be out anytime soon (he also mentioned that on his last Weverse live)
This is sorta more stupid compared to the other reasons because he’s had crew cuts before, but his hair getting progressively shorter and now at a proper crew cut. And the picture of him getting the cut in his most recent instagram post…*sigh*
Him mentioning that he didn’t have much time left (before the enlistment) and that’s why he couldn’t slow down on his last Weverse live
Him mentioning that he was supposed to enlist around the same time as Hobi but he had to postpone it (coz of the album I suppose (?)) so the new date can’t be thaaat far off?
Which also brings me to a second offshoot thought I had like 5 mins ago. In Jimin’s last Weverse live, he mentioned that he’s currently working on new music too. And since Namjoon mentioned that he doesn’t think his album will be released anytime soon, are we looking to see some of the members making new music (solo albums or an ot7 project (?)) to be released next year after they’ve all enlisted possibly? Or have they already begun the works for their comeback? Lol have I got many questions!
I know that making music isn’t really a one dimensional process. They probably work on stuff all the time that materializes into different projects, solo or group. But Namjoon’s recent social media activity has me stressed with anticipation and all of these different possibilities so ya lol I’d love to hear ur thoughts. Appreciate!
UPDATE: Thank you for all the responses. I really appreciate every one them 💕 I wanted to attach a link from the YouTube channel [Korea Now](https://youtu.be/5efH4BORDdo) reopening the discussion about BTS and military exemption. Such a coincidence (is it tho? 🤔) that they put this out just 2 hours ago and we’d just discussed about the same below haha!
by jellyshrimppp
I’m not sure if Bighit will announce when every member applies to cancel their postponement – if they will then he has time. If they don’t, then we really have no idea
I was very sure he’d be gone by the end of June but I guess not.
I do think he’s prepping for it though, we might get news soon.
In my mind they will take the same route as taemin and baekhyun did and just drop the AOTY and enlist without any “proper” promotions other than destruction of armys across the globe
I think you’re probably right, but I’ve learned they’re nothing if not surprising. I kind of thought everyone would enlist around the same time period so they could come back at the same time-ish and they’re stretching it out. But with the amount of solo content they’ve put out in a short time, I guess it’s understandable.
I’m still confused as to how an Olympic athlete or classical musician promotes Korean culture to the world more than BTS who received the cultural merit award (along with all of their other diplomatic/soft power meetings and speeches). How do they not qualify for exemption? I’m not Korean, so I know my opinion is undoubtedly ignorant and does not matter, but it seems so wrong if such exemptions exist for others.
I figured we were not getting anything in June, and actually yoongi was going first after the tour , but idk really.. now I kinda hope he gets to go after his birthday at least
my guess based on absolutely nothing at all is sometime in august if he is able to complete his album?/single? he could release it after jk finishes his promotions. or maybe september after his birthday since who would want to spend their birthday enlisted if they had a choice. I’m in the camp of the sooner he goes the sooner he/OT7 comes back. As it stands were already looking at mid 2025 if they continue to stagger enlistments throughout the rest of this year. In the end I trust them to decide what works best for them but the anticipation is hard 😖😖😖
if i remember correctly, both jin and hobi had a turnaround of like 2 months (?) from the canceling of their postponement to their enlistment date – if he’s already started the process, i assume then maybe he already has a date and is sort of planning around that
someone noticed a camera in the back of his most recent IG posts, so maybe he’s filming a short documentary + additional content before he leaves – i get the sense that namjoon wants to do as much as he can before he enlists, but i’m also glad he’s not overly pressuring himself to release anything before then (via what he said on colde)
when he said “expect the unexpected,” my prediction is that he already knows when he’s enlisting and wants to depart as quietly as possibly, while also tying up any loose ends (i still think he has a collab with sunset rollercoaster on the way, but you didn’t hear it from me!!!)
I’ve been thinking about this a lot too. He released his album and promoted is successfully. Is he going to release another album? Because obvs I don’t want him to go but I just keep thinking how long it’ll be before he comes back so I kind of just want him to hurry up and go while my mind is distracted with JK for the time being.
I think BTS always was going to enlist. Exemption or not…I don’t know why I feel that but I do. I have to say, and I don’t mean this in a mean way at all because I love and respect him so much, I think RM is putting it off until another member makes their decision to go. I know this sounds silly but that is my gut.
RM said his album won’t come out until he gets back in 2025 so maybe he is getting all his ideas and thoughts down now so he doesn’t forget? Just an opinion.
I would like to make the silly argument that they’re all waiting for their enlistment call (except Hobi and Jin, coz they’re already enlisted). 😉 So I really don’t want to speculate anymore.
Like Hagrid said: “What’s comin’ will come, an’ we’ll meet it when it does.”
Just by going by how they handled Jin and Hobi’s enlistment, my guess is probably not. In Jin and Hobi’s case, Big Hit both announced the start of the enlistment process and then the waiting game started. I think with Jin, the exact date was leaked, and with Hobi, was it announced? I forgot what happened exactly.
But who knows, maybe Namjoon is doing it differently. That wouldn’t be impossible. 🙂
I hope you’re not unnecessarily stressing yourself too much from this though. Feeling a bit anxious at the waiting game is normal (I feel it too!), after all as fans we do feel quite attached to them. But they will be fine! We will be fine. 🙂
My friend has been right about all of it so far, she speculates Namjoon will go after Junkook’s promotions.
Another theory was that one member will wait just before Jin returns to go, so we have one of the OT7 out of the military.
I think that maybe than working on his music that he is possibly also waiting to support jk and his album. JK joined because of RM so naturally rm would want to support him and be there for jk especially since he is the youngest. I’ve talked to friends about this multiple times. I don’t think he will still be here in August when yoongi does his shows but it is also a possibility he could be, especially if jk has some things planned during august and possibly V. He could be at yoongi’s concert as yoongi said next time he should have all seven but that could mean after they come back, who knows. also the possibility of him trying to be the great leader he is and support all of the members and stay as long as he can to do that. Of course, this is all my opinion and guess as to when. I do believe his enlistment is coming soon its just all of if it will be in July or August.