BTS (BTS), the first Korean singer to top the Billboard main singles chart, is expected to be able to "delay military service" amid interest in whether to grant military service exemption.
The Military Manpower Administration said in a report to the National Assembly's National Defense Commission on the 13th that it is seeking to revise the Military Service Act, which calls for delaying the conscription and recruitment of outstanding people in the field of culture and arts.
The Military Manpower Administration is expected to submit its opinion to the National Assembly that Rep. Jeon Yong-ki of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea will positively review the revision of the military service law.
Rep. Jeon Yong-ki earlier proposed a revision to the Military Service Act last month to allow outstanding people in the field of pop culture and arts to be conscripted and called up, which was recommended by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism by acknowledging that he has enhanced national status and dignity.
In response, the Military Manpower Administration said, "We will draw up a government plan to postpone the recommendation of the Minister of Culture and Sports, but cancel the postponement of those who have damaged their dignity. The purpose is to enhance the national image by guaranteeing public cultural and artistic activities."
If the revision to the Military Service Act is finalized, the "special military service exemption" for BTS members will not be recognized, but it is expected that a delay in conscription and convocation will be possible.
When Min Hong-chul, a lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Korea, asked about the ministry's position on the BTS military service issue during a parliamentary audit of the National Defense Commission on the 7th, Defense Minister Seo Wook replied, "There should be various social consensus, but we are not considering military service exemption in our current judgment," and added, "Considering the duration of the activities, we believe it is also meaningful to review the degree of the postponement."
However, the Military Manpower Administration continues to maintain its policy of excluding the special military service transfer of art personnel in the field of pop culture and arts.
In this regard, the government held a meeting on state affairs under the supervision of the Prime Minister's Office in November last year and decided to exclude the inclusion of art personnel in the field of pop culture and arts because it did not match the government's basic stance to reduce alternative service and enhance fairness and equity in fulfilling military service.
Recently, some in the ruling party have argued that military service exemption for popular culture artists, including BTS, is necessary.
Among BTS members, Jin (real name Kim Seok-jin), the eldest brother, was born in 1992, and is the closest to joining the military.
Under the current military service law, those who win the third place or higher in the Olympics, those who win the first place in the Asian Games, those who win the second place in the international art competition, and those who win the first place in the domestic art competition will be included as art and sports agents. Domestic and foreign competitions where art personnel are recognized are prescribed by the Military Manpower Administration's directives.
