K-pop sensation BTS becoming the first Korean act to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart with its recently released single has reignited a debate over the seven members’ military service.
Introduced in 1973, the military exemption law allows classical musicians and athletes who have won awards in state-recognized domestic and international competitions to serve in alternative service or be exempted from military service. The law does not apply to pop artists like BTS.
The debate ended last November when Culture Minister Park Yang-woo officially announced that BTS will not be exempt from the military service during a press conference held after attending the UNESCO Forum of Ministers of Culture in Paris. “In the case of BTS, I wish I could allow exemptions for them under certain standards, but the Military Manpower Administration and the Ministry of National Defense are inclined to downsize the overall scope ,” Park said at the time.On Thursday, Rep. Jeon Yong-gi of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea submitted a revised bill that aims to allow figures who’ve made great contributions in popular culture and arts to postpone mandatory military service.
The lawmaker emphasized that exemption and postponement are two different issues and the country should provide a choice to pop artists, whose careers usually peak in their 20s. Meanwhile, the members of BTS have not expressed clear opinions on this topic. Jin only briefly referred to the possibility of military enlistment in April last year when he appeared on CBS’ “Sunday Morning.”“As Koreans, it‘s natural. Someday when duty calls, we will be ready to respond and do our best,” Jin said during an interview on the American TV show.
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