Korean media reported that Jungkook was invited to perform with Usher at the Super Bowl Halftime Show, but due to his military enlistment in December 2023, he could not accept, leaving fans disappointed.
Because if Jungkook performs, this will be the first time a K-pop idol has appeared at the Super Bowl.
He enlisted two months early, in December 2023, which prevented him from joining the program last February 2024.
Fans expressed disappointment that Jungkook, born in 1997, was able to postpone his military service until age 30 under South Korea's revised Military Service Act, which allows special figures in the arts to delay their enlistment with the recommendation of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
However, in November 2023, BigHit Music (a subsidiary of HYBE) announced that RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook had begun their military enlistment process, with the goal of returning as a full group in 2025.
The decision has drawn criticism from some fans who believe the agency should have allowed Jungkook to perform at the Super Bowl.
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), hashtags like "Jungkook leaves HYBE" are spreading.
They expressed their disappointment, writing, "The Super Bowl should not be postponed, not the military."
International fans also voiced their discontent with statements like "BigHit stop destroying Jungkook" and "HYBE stop destroying Jungkook".
Jungkook has proven his talent not only as a member of BTS but also as a solo artist. His solo album "Golden", released in November 2023, was a huge success with hits such as "Standing Next to You", "Seven" and "3D".
The album marked Jungkook's entry as a global pop star and he became the first K-pop soloist to have four songs chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. His album also stayed on the Billboard 200 for 22 consecutive weeks, setting a record for the longest charting period by a Korean solo artist.
The Super Bowl halftime show is considered a dream stage for many artists, with past performers including Michael Jackson, Beyonce and The Weeknd.
