Ahn Cheol-soo to visit HYBE to discuss ways to bolster culture industry

K-pop boy band BTS / Courtesy of Big Hit Music

By Dong Sun-hwa

Ahn Cheol-soo, the chairman of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's transition committee, will visit the headquarters of HYBE, the record label behind K-pop juggernaut BTS, in Seoul on Saturday to discuss ways to support the entertainment industry.

“Ahn and the members of different subcommittees will pay a visit to listen to the voices of those who have been working to promote Korean culture,” Shin Yong-hyun, a spokeswoman for the transition committee said in a regular briefing, Friday. “We will try to identify different factors hampering the growth of our industry.”

Ahn Cheol-soo, the chairman of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's transition committee / Joint Press Corps

Prior to the briefing, there were media reports claiming that Ahn and HYBE officials will have a discussion about exempting BTS members from mandatory military service. Under current law, all able-bodied men aged between 18 and 28 should join the armed forces and serve for almost two years. International award-winning classical musicians and athletes are exempt from the draft, but K-pop singers are not. A bill that would enable them to substitute their active duty service has been pending at the National Assembly.

“It makes sense for people to think that great entertainers should also receive preferential treatment,” Shin added. “But we are not sure if HYBE will bring this issue to the table this time. We will mostly listen to their thoughts instead of bringing the issue up first.”

When Ahn was the presidential candidate for the centrist People Party, he said BTS should be given a fair chance like other artists who have enhanced the nation's prestige. However, Yoon took a more cautious approach, arguing, “We should review the current criteria and attempt to reach a national consensus.”