After waiting almost 1,000 days, BTS fans around the world rejoiced on Saturday, anticipating a reunion as Suga, the last member of arguably the world’s biggest pop band, completed his national service and returned to civilian life.

       “Thank you for your patience,” Suga wrote Saturday in a post on social media to the band’s legions of fans.

       Four other band members — RM, V, Jimin, and Jungkook — were discharged last week. Jin and J-hope got out last year.

       While excitement has been mounting from fans worldwide, a spokeswoman for the band’s agency said she could not yet disclose any plans for a group comeback. Nonetheless, some BTS supporters have already been holding parties to celebrate.

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       In the time it took for all seven members to carry out their service, fans worried the group’s acclaim and influence might dwindle. Industry experts say male celebrities in South Korea who take a hiatus from public life to enlist often face a decline in popularity.

       But BTS might be different.

       “They’re not just idols. They’re cultural icons,” says Kim Taeryong, a professor at the K-Culture and Story Contents Research Institute at Kyung Hee University. The group strategically released prerecorded songs and videos throughout the men’s time in the military and communicated often with fans on social media. This kept BTS fresh and current in the minds of the public, Professor Kim said.

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