Korean government works to help BTS postpone their military enlistment

The Korean government and politicians are working together to help K-pop superstars BTS postpone their military service until age 30.

This came after BTS topped the Billboard Hot 100 on September 1 through their new single “Dynamite,” earning the distinction of being the first Korean artist to chart No. 1 on the chart.

Before BTS, Korean rapper Psy’s viral song “Gangnam Style” ranked highest at No. 2 on the chart in 2012.

The proposal is to revise the South Korean Military Service Law to allow prominent pop culture artists like BTS to delay their military enlistment until age 30. They will not be exempted from military service.

“Deferring military service is a totally different matter from granting exemptions. We need to provide the option to postpone enlistment for those in other fields whose careers flourish in their 20s, ”said Proportional Representative Jeon Yong-gi of the ruling Democratic Party, who proposed a draft law on deferral of military service, according to the Korea Times. .

The concession of deferral of military service will apply to those who have been active in their field for at least three years, have made outstanding contributions to raise the status of South Korea and are duly recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) .

In October 2018, the Korean government awarded cultural medals to BTS for helping to spread Korean culture around the world. All seven members received the MCST’s Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit (Flower Crown) medal, becoming the youngest recipients of the award.

Under the current rule, all healthy Korean men must enlist by age 28. Jin, the oldest member of BTS, is scheduled to enlist when he turns 28 in December.

In a filing with the Financial Services Commission on September 2, Big Hit Entertainment said that Jin will be able to postpone his enlistment until 2021.

“BTS is made up of members born between 1992 and 1997, and all are eligible for their mandatory active duty. We believe that the postponement of Jin’s enlistment will be possible until the end of 2021, under the revised Military Service Law, ”the company said, SBS News reported.

This is because Jin is currently enrolled in graduate school at Hanyang Cyber ​​University since 2017 and this will allow him to postpone his enlistment until age 29.

Suga, RM, and J-Hope also started their graduate program at the university in March 2019, while Jimin and V were scheduled to enroll this month.

Culture Minister Park Yang-woo said the revision of the Military Service Law will be completed by the end of the year.

“BTS and ‘Parasite’ have made enormous contributions to the country, both in terms of cultural and economic benefits. We are currently finalizing the details and defining the criteria that will allow BTS members to delay their enlistment until the age of 30. We plan to review the law by the end of this year. However, we have no plans to grant exemptions, ”said the minister.

Last November, the MCST rejected the idea that BTS should be granted an exemption from military service due to their contributions to the elevation of Korean culture.

“In the case of BTS, I personally wish I could allow exemptions for them under certain standards, but the Military Manpower Administration and the Ministry of National Defense (in charge of compulsory military service) are inclined to reduce the overall scope (of the exemption), “Minister Park said at the time, Yonhap News reported.

On September 4, an individual submitted a petition on the website of President Moon Jae-in’s office, urging him to lead the way for BTS to be exempted from military service. The petition stated the reasons why BTS should be exempt, including their Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 exploits; and her immense popularity, achievements and contributions.