After delaying for years, BTS member may be forced to do military service

A surprising decision by the South Korean boy band BTS Taking a break from concerts has reignited the debate over mandatory military service in a country that sets global pop culture trends while facing a decades-old threat from the Cold War.

Military service is extremely controversial in South Korea, where all fit men between the ages of 18 and 28 must serve for about two years as part of efforts to defend against a hostile North Korea.

Over the years, specific categories of men have gained exemptions — allowed to defer service for a certain time or to serve shorter service — including men who win medals at the Olympics or Asian Games, and classical musicians and dancers who win a major award. in certain competitions.

Under a 2019 revision of the law, K-pop stars were allowed to defer their services until their 30s.

Parliament is now debating a new amendment that would allow K-pop artists to do just three weeks of military training.

For BTS, and in particular for the oldest member of the band, known to fans as Jin, the outcome of the deliberations in Parliament will be important.

While the band’s management company has long portrayed the seven members of BTS as interested in doing their duty, the reality of two years of full-time military service is coming into focus as time goes on.

Jin, 29, has put off his service as long as he can and is facing the looming prospect of a full term — that is, two years out of the public eye — when he turns 30.

For Jin and his bandmates, waiting for Parliament to decide has been extremely stressful and is the main reason they are taking a break from performing, said Yoon Sang-hyun, a lawmaker who proposed the amendment to include three weeks of training for K-pop stars.

“The members cited exhaustion and the need for rest as the main reason, but the real reason was Jin’s military service,” said Yoon.

“BTS did a job that would have taken over 1,000 diplomats to do,” he added.