Kim Rahn is the managing editor of The Korea Times. Since joining the company in 2003, she has covered various beats including the presidential office, Seoul city government, the Bank of Korea and the tourism industry. In 2014, she won the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) award for her coverage of the ordeals of migrant women in Korea.
BTS fans support group members' decision to fulfill military service
A BTS fan holds a sign before the K-pop boy group's “Yet to Come in Busan” concert in the port city, Saturday. The sign reads: “We ARMY (BTS' fan club) are here, so BTS you don't worry.” Yonhap
By Kim Rahn
By Kim Rahn
Fans of K-pop juggernaut BTS have expressed positive responses in general to the announcement by its agency, Big Hit Music, that the members of the boy band will fulfill their mandatory military service, starting with the oldest member Jin.
Tired of years of debate about whether to exempt them from duty because of their contribution to the country's image, they say it will be better for the group and its agency to settle the issue, so that there will be no more controversy or uncertainty about their future.
On Weverse, a K-pop fan community platform, the most posted words after BTS' announcement that the members will fulfill their military duty were, “(I'll be) waiting” and “(I) support (the decision).”
“I'll wait until all of the seven members will finish their service and return as a group,” one fan wrote on Weverse.
“I am still heartbroken but very proud of the decision they made,” a Facebook user wrote.
BTS members perform in the “Yet to Come in Busan” concert, Saturday. Courtesy of Big Hit Music
Other comments on Facebook include: “That's a smart move. It will garner them much more respect I think from people who don't have the ability to delay military duty,” “Proud that they will join so many other skilled entertainers who've fulfilled their military obligations,” and, “It is such a great honor for BTS to serve their country not just as (an) entertainer but as a citizen as well.”
One fan in her 40s said, “BTS' best moment has yet to come. I expect them, after fulfilling their military duty, to become more mature and keep presenting songs that can give positive influence on people around the world.”
Big Hit Music said Monday that Jin may start the 18-month required military service as early as this year, and other members will follow suit one by one according to their individual schedules, adding that it expects them to resume group activity with the full seven members in 2025.
As to this schedule, one wrote on Facebook: “I am still confused as to why they don't fulfill their military service as a group at the same time. An 18-month absence as a group is much better than not having all seven available for the next five to six years.”
BTS member Jin poses ahead of a press conference to introduce the group's new single, "Butter," in Seoul, May 21, 2021. AP-Yonhap
Some criticized the Military Service Act, which now allows exemptions from Korea's compulsory military duty for top-performing athletes and artists, usually medalists at the Asian Games or Olympics and award recipients at renowned classical music or art competitions. There have been calls to offer the exemption to entertainers as well who make major achievements.
“Let's change the law so no one ― athletes and artists ― will be exempt from the duty. It is discrimination (against entertainers). How much economic contribution have the athletes made to the country after being given the privilege of military service exemption? Compared to the economic contributions all of the privileged athletes have made in total, the contributions BTS solely has made would be much larger,” an internet user wrote.