K-pop stars including the internationally acclaimed boy band BTS will not be exempt from carrying out South Korea’s compulsory military service. Officials at the government’s military system reform body have reportedly agreed not to extend an existing exemption. An official announcement is expected to be made at the end of this month. What’s the best birthday gift RM of K-pop boy band BTS could get? A mini forest in Seoul, named after him The fairness of the current conscription system – backed by a law introduced in 1973 – has been questioned following BTS’ huge global success, which has seen the seven-member group carry out a huge sold-out world tour and celebrate three album releases topping the American Billboard chart. Soccer star Son Heung-min, who plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, secured an exemption from military service when South Korea won the gold medal at the Asian Games football tournament Under the existing law all South Korean males must begin compulsory military service before turning 28. Some lawmakers, including Ha Tae-keung of the opposition Bareunmirae Party, had called for reform, saying that pop artists deserve to be exempted from serving their country. However if the system remains the same or changes very little – which now seems likely – Jin, 26, the oldest member of BTS, who turns 27 in December, is expected to begin military duty soon. View this post on Instagram 석찌니 A post shared by BTS JIN 김석진 (@jin.bts) on Aug 19, 2019 at 10:33am PDT In an interview with CBS Sunday Morning in April, he said he would do his best when the time came. Also currently aged 26 is bandmate Suga, who turns 27 next March. J-Hope is 25, while RM will turn 25 on September 12. Younger members Jimin and V are both 23, and Jungkook celebrated his 22nd birthday on September 1. 3 times K-pop band BTS didn’t care about playing it safe Prize winners of certain competitions – mostly Western classical and Korean traditional music events – as well as athletes who win either Olympic or Asian Games gold medals can be exempt from carrying out the service, which lasts about two years. View this post on Instagram 2018 Asian Game Winner 우리 팀원들 코칭스태프 또 우리 지원스태프 너무 감사하고 사랑하고 또 부족한 저를 정말로 빛나게 해줘서 너무 고맙습니다 주장으로써 처음으로 나간 국제 대회에서 이런 좋은성적을 낼수 있게 해줘서 너무나도 영광입니다 너무 많이 고생했고 진짜로 정말 진심으로 감사합니다 그리고 정말 저를 응원해주시는 팬분들 또는 전세계 축구팬분들 뭐라고 말씀을 드려야 할지 모르겠습니다 너무 많은 성원 너무많은 응원을 받아서 정말 많은 책임감 느끼고 감사하게 생각합니다 정말로 팬분들 덕분에 제가 금메달이라는거를 목에 걸수 있었습니다 저한테 평생 잊지 못할 추억 만들어주셔서 감사합니다 앞으로 대한민국을 위해서 대한민국 축구를 위해서 또 저 손흥민을 위해서 최선을 다해서 발전된 모습 보이도록 노력 정말 많이 하겠습니다! 감사하고 사랑합니다️ 금메달은 국민의 것입니다 A post shared by Son HeungMin(손흥민) (@hm_son7) on Sep 2, 2018 at 5:44pm PDT Last September soccer star Son Heung-min, who plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, secured an exemption from military service – along with his South Korea international teammates – when they beat Japan to win the gold medal at the Asian Games football tournament. Why is K-pop band BTS taking a break now? Some noted athletes such as Lee Kang-in, who led South Korea to second place at the 2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, could also be considered. Conscription has existed in the country since 1957 and requires all “able bodied men” aged from 18 to 28 to serve in the military. The duration of the military service lasts about two years, but depends on the branch of the military where the conscript serves. Want more stories like this? Sign up here . Follow STYLE on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and Twitter. This article was originally written by Jung Min-ho for The Korea Times .