Sunshine!

What a gorgeous day - blue skies and warm sunshine! If it were not for the early dark and cool evenings it could be summer!
I'm afraid the rest of my write up will be about BTS - proving that I am indeed an Army ( one who is a fan of BTS!!) - ironic name given the news today!
After talking about BTS in my last two posts - Jin the eldest announced today that he would be doing his military service! It made the radio 4 news ( I already knew but heard it being talked about as I drove to the field with Oscar!)and many other media outlets! BTS doing their mandatory military service has been dogging them for several years - Classical musicians and global award winning sportsmen are exempt and many in S Korea felt that BTS should be too for all they had done to bring S Korea to the attention of the world and whose existence brought great financial  revenue to the country, plus them being chosen by the Prime minister to be ambassadors for S Korea at the UN on anti- asian hate. The gov dragged their heels, gave them an extension to the age of 30, and held a public vote on it,60.9% said they in favor of exempting the group members from military service while 34.3% opposed the idea. The issue of fairness and equality being the reasons against for many young men.They then said maybe they could join the military but be released to do concerts overseas - with the money they made going to the military!!! The band members have always said they were willing to do their duty but they have received negative press - even when other companies went to a meeting with the gov over exemption - BTS's company didn't go but they got the backlash! 
A decision was going to be made in December but BTS have taken the matter into their own hands with Jin waving his exemption and saying he would sign up after his solo album is released and he has done the promotion for it. The Band announced a hiatus 6 months ago to pursue individual interests, I think preparing for this announcement and giving them time to adjust to be being individuals. Their schedule has not allowed them to spend even holidays with their parents for the last 12 years! The main lyricists also felt they had lost inspiration and direction and needed time to rediscover themselves. It will be interesting to see what military duties they will take up, given many have injuries related to their strenuous rehearsals and stage performances. They are expected all to have done their duty by 2025 - doing 18mths to 2 years. Many other musicians and actors have joined the military band or done community service due to mental health issues. Given that K Pop bands often consist of 5 -9 members for them all to do their military service can mean they are not able to continue as a group until all have done their duty. For one band it took 10 years! They are currently making a comeback! At least BTS will all do their service over the next 2-3 years, the youngest is 25, the next two 26, then another two at 28 and the last including Jin 29. For the moment I am eagerly awaiting my favourite Jimin's album being released!