As BTS releases its comeback album 'Arirang' after military service, the K-pop group faces a challenge that echoes one of pop's most famous comebacks. When Elvis Presley was drafted in 1958 at the height of his fame, he left behind a music scene on the brink of transformation, with rock 'n' roll already facing uncertainty from scandals and tragedy.

Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, insisted on treating him like any other soldier, despite the media circus surrounding his induction. The Army initially wanted to make Presley a singing ambassador, but Parker feared backlash and wanted to limit Presley's recordings on the market. After 18 months of service, including a stint in Germany where he developed new interests from karate to amphetamines, Presley returned to find his career prospects uncertain.

His comeback proved Parker's strategy right. A record-breaking $125,000 TV special with Frank Sinatra, two No. 1 singles including the million-selling 'Stuck on You,' and a new album showed Presley had lost none of his appeal. The military service had given him a sheen of respectability while the music world had changed dramatically in his absence. For BTS, now attempting their own post-military comeback after a three-year hiatus, Presley's experience suggests that while the music world can change fast, proven talent often endures.