In a Weverse livestream today (June 11), Jimin and Jungkook from K-pop boy band BTS got cosy and talked humorously about their experiences in the military. The duo was discharged earlier this morning, having enlisted into the 5th Infantry Division Artillery Brigade together in December 2023.

Jimin, 29, revealed his pre-enlistment anxiety woes, sharing: "I was a mess, super stressed about going into boot camp. Jungkook seemed okay, but I struggled every night after dinner just trying to get through it. He gave me so much strength.

"However, once we got our unit assignments, the roles were reversed — Jungkook started having a hard time every day."

According to a report by The Korea Herald, Jungkook, 27, served as a cook and Jimin was an artilleryman.

For Jimin, it was a surprise that he ended up in the front lines.

He admitted: "I didn't think I'd be in the artillery unit. The day we got transferred, the cold wave started. It was probably -20°c, and one of the seniors said it was the second coldest winter in their 20-year career. I was like, 'Why is this happening to us?'

"It's a place where you can't help but swear all the time," he remarked.

"I enlisted with Jungkook because I thought it'd be better with him — but how were we supposed to know we'd end up at the front line? Everyone looked at us with pitiful eyes that said, 'Why did you come here?' At the time, we didn't have the strength."

The idol's time in the military seems to have had a profound impact on his appreciation for soldiers around him. Earlier in the morning after his discharge, Jimin spoke to fans and reporters: "It was my first time in the military, and honestly, it wasn't that easy. If you ever see soldiers passing by, I'd be very grateful if you could offer them kind words."

Sharing more training camp stories during the livestream, Jimin and Jungkook reminisced about how they had clung to each other on their first day.

"The two of us kept talking. We were just stuck together and no one else was saying a word, but we were the only ones laughing and the rest of them were just like this..." they recounted, as Jimin and Jungkook mimicked a stern posture with arms outstretched, palms on their knees.

Jimin added: "When the assistant instructor came, we got really close to him. The platoon commander was great too — he's two years older than me. He treated me as if we were real brothers and he felt like a father to me by the time I was discharged."

Jimin and Jungkook were glued at the hip, as they even happened to sleep next to each other at night.

Jimin recalled a bedtime instance that tickled both of them. He explained: "When I was sleeping, I put my arms up by my head. Every time I fell asleep, my dreams had this droning 'tak-tak-tak' construction noise that woke me up.

"My arm was so numb that I woke up with a start — and then I saw Jungkook's face, sound asleep on my arm and I realised the noise was him snoring."

Jungkook laughed and pleaded guilty, joking: "I guess I wanted to lean on you."

He also shared a photo strip the two of them took together in a BTS Festa booth upon the completion of their duties in celebration of their discharge.

Yesterday, their fellow bandmates RM and V were discharged from the military as well, holding yet another Weverse livestream. Jin and J-Hope were the first to finish serving the nation in 2024 and have been pursuing solo activities.

Suga will be the last member to complete his duties, with his discharge scheduled for June 21.

Kristy.chua@asiaone.com

For more original AsiaOne articles, visit here.