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BTS members’ military service can be deferred after bill passes targeting K-pop stars who represent South Korea globally

  • Revised Military Service Act will enable those who represent South Korea internationally to delay enlisting until the age of 30
  • The issue recently came to a head as BTS member Jin is now 28 and would have had to enlist by the end of the year if the act was not revised

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If BTS member Jin was to enlist in the South Korean military as expected this year, the K-pop group would have been unable to perform and tour as a combined septet again for some time. Photo: Big Hit Entertainment
Tamar Herman

South Korea’s National Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday that will allow male K-pop stars such as the members of BTS to defer their mandatory service in the country’s military.

Almost all able-bodied South Korean men must start roughly two years of military service around the time of their 28th birthday. But the bill revising the Military Service Act will enable those who have represented the country internationally and gained global acclaim to delay enlisting until the age of 30 to help boost the country’s reputation through their work.

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K-pop stars of boy band BTS allowed to postpone military service after South Korea passes new law

K-pop stars of boy band BTS allowed to postpone military service after South Korea passes new law

The revision was proposed after BTS’ single Dynamite, released in August, went to No 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

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The issue recently came to a head in both politics and South Korean public discourse as BTS member Jin is now 28 and would have had to enlist by the end of the year if the Military Service Act was not revised. All seven BTS members are expected to be covered by the revision.
All seven BTS members are expected to be covered by the revision to the Military Service Act. Photo: AFP
All seven BTS members are expected to be covered by the revision to the Military Service Act. Photo: AFP
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It is not known whether the impact of the coronavirus was a factor in the bill being passed. Live K-pop concerts have come to a halt this year and, if Jin was to enlist as expected, BTS would have been unable to perform and tour as a combined septet again for some time.
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