Will BTS do military service? It’s looking more likely, judging by military chief and minister’s recent comments, but South Korean public is split on whether K-pop stars need to don uniforms
- Comments by South Korea’s defence minister and military commissioner that it is ‘desirable’ BTS do military service suggest K-pop stars may end up in uniform
- Military service is mandatory for able-bodied South Korean men, although exemptions can be granted. Polls show the public split over whether BTS should serve
South Korea’s military appears to want to conscript members of the K-pop supergroup BTS for mandatory military duties, as the public remains sharply divided over whether they should be given exemptions.
Whether the band’s seven members must serve in the army is one of the hottest issues in South Korea because its oldest member, Jin, faces possible enlistment early next year after turning 30 in December.
Under South Korean law, all able-bodied men are required to perform 18-21 months of military service. But the law provides special exemptions for athletes, classical and traditional musicians, and ballet and other dancers who have won top prizes in certain competitions that enhance national prestige.
Without a revision of the law, the government can take steps to grant special exemptions. But past exemptions for people who performed well in non-designated competitions triggered serious debate about the fairness of the system.
Since the draft forces young men to suspend their professional careers or studies, the dodging of military duties or creation of exemptions is a highly sensitive issue.
In one recent survey, about 61 per cent of respondents supported exemptions for entertainers such as BTS, while in another, about 54 per cent said BTS members should serve in the military.
Several amendments of the conscription law that would pave the way for BTS members to be exempted have been introduced in the National Assembly, but have not been voted on with lawmakers sharply divided on the matter.
In August, Lee said if BTS members join the military, they would likely be allowed to continue practising and to join other non-serving BTS members in overseas group tours.
People who are exempted from the draft are released from the military after three weeks of basic training. They are also required to perform 544 hours of volunteer work and continue serving in their professional fields for 34 months.
