The first of seven farewells: BTS' Jin, Astronaut, Years of Unshed Tears, Love, and Hate

Kim Seok-jin, the senior vocalist for BTS, said goodbye to the sea of purple on Friday in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fans will remember the Coldplay concert for the next few days, months, and even years because it was full of bittersweet, fleeting moments like Chris Martin's introduction, Jin running up to him for a hug, their tearless smile, fans sobbing in the crowds, Jin listening to the chants for the final time, and the colours blue and purple.They may have made their military duty announcement after the Busan concert, the last scheduled performance, because Jin made it plain that he did not want any tearful farewells. The members were aware that they would go regardless of whether the South Korean government granted them the exemption because the development had been planned for some time. More information about what has been genuinely going on and what the band has been hiding for months has emerged during the last two days.

They had intended to enlist after their album BE in 2020, but Jin said they weren't ready for the heights they were going to reach next in their most recent VLive after the release of the single Astronaut. They further solidified their place in the global music industry with the songs Butter, Permission to Dance, and Grammys 2022. Every performance they gave in the past few months, which was recorded for a music video, they believed would be their last. These were just small indications that they were saying goodbye. Jin is pictured in the centre of the 2020 music video's Life Goes On, which places hope in the midst of the pandemic—a suggestion that ARMY has only recently recognised. If it had been a goodbye to Jin, it wouldn't have been.

Jungkook yelled, "This won't be the last time," to the audience during Permission to Dance LA in 2021. It won't be the final time ever. It now makes clear why the septet were so passionate during FESTA 2022 because they were subtly hinting at their impending military service. When the others were sobbing, Jin was picked out because he appeared "especially calm and aloof," but he had actually planned to enrol in May or June. He was asked to remain on by the band members so that they could perform in Busan for the Army. Despite debates and conflicts, Jin ultimately decided to stay, despite his reluctance to depart for his winter service.

However, they just asked for a pause so they could concentrate on their individual tasks. Governmental organisations wrote letters pleading with them to change their minds. The decision had been made, but nobody besides those involved knew it yet. The candle was burning from both ends. However, there was a lot happening in unreleased material that had gone unreported. Behind the scenes, as the government fought, conducted surveys, the band appeared to be moved around even more, and fans were alarmed every time Big Hit issued a notification, all of these discussions and disagreements took place.

At the press conference, the members were questioned about the service even though they already knew what they were going to do. They responded with cryptic one-liners. Economic depression was being discussed, HYBE stock prices were dropping, and the country's soft power was nearly balanced on seven shoulders. They had also evolved into diplomatic tools for South Korea. The question from the West would be, "Haven't they already served the country?" Everyone was arguing their futures in a tense environment, nearly stealing the agency from the septet themselves.

The subject of military service turned become a two-edged sword. The band received more hostility than ever as a result of that in-depth debate, which raged for years. Additionally, there was disparaging talk about "the next BTS," which is offensive given that the band took years to establish itself and didn't become famous overnight. Some people criticised them for not enlisting and persisted in pressuring them to join the military. They continued to return for concerts, photo shoots, and even two Run BTS episodes, displaying their previous wild camaraderie and maintaining their smiles and silliness despite months of pressure, criticism, and hatred. Another temporary farewell was expressed in their anthology CD Proof, which told their story from the beginning.

Though they still have time before enlisting in the military, the others will move rapidly to follow Jin when it is eventually his turn to go. They've always demonstrated that it's all or nothing. BTS cannot function without Jin; during Suga's three-month absence for shoulder surgery recovery, they could barely cope.

The Astronaut, the perfect parting gift 

Though they still have time before enlisting in the military, the others will move rapidly to follow Jin when it is eventually his turn to go. They've always demonstrated that it's all or nothing. BTS cannot function without Jin; during Suga's three-month absence for shoulder surgery recovery, they could barely cope.

https://youtu.be/c6ASQOwKkhk 

ARMY has already developed innumerable hypotheses and interpretations on what Jin's Astronaut means or may imply because the song is highly significant. It only concerns an extraterrestrial who defies orders to return to the mothership and finds refuge among humans, experiencing true homecoming. The video ends with Jin completing the crossword, using the letters family, ARMY, and cosy. Jin beams as he sits on a pickup truck and drives home. Jin's comments have always made him feel better.

He said it succinctly: He was lost and wandering until he discovered ARMY, and that love is what changed him into the man he is today. The truck that the septet frequently used appears in the video, along with other recognisable elements from previous BTS music videos. 

As an astronaut eventually returns to Earth, it's an appropriate farewell.

There are still six more temporary farewells after this one. However, the ARMY offers to wait.