Are BTS members cashing in before they join the military?

Are BTS members cashing in before they join the military?
ABC

The bank statements of three members of BTS are now “Dynamite,” thanks to a sudden infusion of cash from stock sales.

Bloomberg reports that Jin, J-Hope and RM sold nearly 32,000 combined shares in Hybe Co., the new name of their management company, which was formerly known as Big Hit. The three members pocketed some $8.4 million from the sale.

Ahead of the company’s IPO, the founder of Hybe, Bang Si-Hyuk, gave BTS a 1.41% stake in the company, which amounted to nearly 479,000 shares.  Those shares are now worth $165 million, having doubled since the IPO last October.

The sale netted Jin $4.1 million, J-Hope $1.57 million and RM $2.75 million.

Bloomberg states that the three members are likely cashing in before their mandatory two-year military service.  Able-bodied men are originally required to serve 20 months in the nation’s military before they turn 28, but last December, lawmakers passed a bill allowing those who work in certain professions — like entertainment — to put off service until they turn 30.

Jin, the group’s oldest member, turned 28 last December.  Another member, Suga, will turn 29 in March.  RM and J-Hope are both 27.

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