Commissioner Lee Ki Sik, from the Military Human Resources Administration has said it is desirable to the South Korean group members to carry out military duties to ensure fairness in the country’s military service.
Under South Korean law, all able-bodied men must perform between 18 and 21 months of military service. But the law provides special exemptions for athletes, classical and traditional musicians, and ballet dancers and others who have won major prizes in certain competitions that enhance national prestige.
But a decision made in 2019 by the Ministry of Defense mandated that pop stars not get a pass, so the seven members of the band should serve in the military, and Jin, the oldest member faces possibly enlistment early next year when turning 30.
In a recent poll, around 61% of respondents supported exemptions for artists like BTS, while in another, around 54% said BTS members should serve in the military. Since conscription forces young people to suspend their professional careers or studies, the avoidance of military duties or the creation of exemptions is a very sensitive issue.
But BTS are not the only ones who have to serve the military duties, Super Junior, another South Korean group, with 13 members, lost energy during 10 years when its members had to complete their national duties and had to finish it in 2019.
