While BTS fans are overwhelmingly in favour of some exemption, there are others in the country who are vehemently against what they see as preferential treatment for the wealthy, powerful and connected.

Currently, the policy that allows waivers for some elite athletes and musicians – but not popular performers – has been a key issue of contention.

Hwang said pop artists should also be beneficiaries of the programme, which allows those who qualify to do alternative services in their respective fields instead of serving in active military duty.

Will BTS be first K-pop stars to bypass South Korea’s military service?

The minister said beneficiaries are those who have raised the national profile through their excellent skills and “there is no reason the pop culture field should be excluded”.

“If I hand this issue over to the next government, it would represent an act of cowardice … I don’t like to avoid this issue for fear of criticism as I am fully aware that such a measure would greatly boost national interests,” Hwang told journalists.

Hwang urged parliament to pass bills to this effect as early as possible, which has been pending at the National Assembly.

He also directly mentioned the band, saying: “I thought somebody should be a responsible voice at a time when there are conflicting pros and cons ahead of the enlistment of some of the BTS members.”

It has long been a hot topic if pop celebrities such as BTS should also be exempted. The debate became more prevalent in 2020 when the global sensations reached the top of the US music charts with their song Dynamite.

President Moon at that time thanked them for helping promote K-pop and the National Assembly passed a new law allowing pop stars to defer their national service until the age of 30, if approved by the culture ministry.

The liberal president’s five-year term ends on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s inauguration of the conservative Yoon.

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According to research by the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute last month, BTS can add up to 1.2 trillion won (US$1 billion) to the country’s economy when they perform three sold out shows at the 65,000-seat Olympic Stadium in Seoul. That balloons to 12 trillion won (US$10 billion) should they decide to perform these three-night engagements 10 times a year.

Voices of opposition against this proposal mainly come from young men who have fulfilled or will soon begin their military service as the defence ministry has also called for “prudence”.

Vice Defence Minister Park Jae-min told the National Assembly in November it was difficult to set up clear-cut standards for pop celebrities, because their successes equated differently from Olympic medals for athletes or prestigious international concerts awards in case of classic musicians.

Celebrities shouldn’t be compensated extra for their moneymaking activities, he added.

There have also been signals that the new administration does not favour an exemption.

Incoming president Yoon’s Defence Minister-nominee Lee Jong-seop said on Wednesday it would also take into account that potential conscripts have been decreasing in numbers due to the country’s low birth rate. “The issue of fairness should also be considered,” he said.

According to a survey by Korea Gallup last month, a majority of Koreans, 59 per cent to 33 per cent, support an alternative to compulsory military service for BTS. But many expressed anger online at the move.

BTS law controversy: should the boys be exempt from military service?

“Rich people and those who make a lot of money don’t serve military duty and only the poor and the downtrodden should protect the country. No way! Report to duty now!” wrote a user on Naver news portal, drawing more than 1,600 likes compared to 80 dislikes.

BTS’ agency Hybe expressed hope the issue would be settled soon at the National Assembly.

“The uncertainty over the military draft system has been weighing on the artists,” Hybe’s chief communication officer Lee Jin-hyeong said last month.

Additional reporting by Bloomberg