Military service exemptions for BTS become political football

Criteria for military service exemptions clear for athletes, but not for pop artists, leaving room for political considerations

By Jung Min-ho

Should the members of BTS be exempted from mandatory military service? There's no clear answer. What's clear is that, if nothing changes, Jin, 29, its oldest member, must enlist before his upcoming birthday on Dec. 4.

Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, in his latest ambivalent response to the issue, said during Wednesday's meeting at the National Assembly that he has told his officials to conduct a survey. After the survey is completed, he said a conclusion would be drawn considering its results and other factors, including the national interest.

Yet the decision is not his to make, given its political sensitivity. Experts say it is ultimately in the hands of politicians, who have been raising the issue for years.

Politicians need BTS' global appeal

Without a question, BTS is Korea's biggest music act with a global influence. Having debuted in 2013, the septet ― consisting of Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook ― has won a plethora of domestic and international honors, including 12 Billboard Music Awards.

For politicians who want to promote their political events and achievements, especially abroad, BTS is a guaranteed magnet for attention.

Skyrocketing accommodation prices in northeastern Busan made headlines recently. It later turned out that BTS, appointed as honorary ambassadors for Busan's bid to host the World Expo 2030, was planning to hold a concert in the area to promote the campaign. After a flurry of complaints, the city government eventually changed the concert location.

Mayor Park Heong-joon, who needs the group's continued support, openly urged President Yoon Suk-yeol, Aug. 18, to consider giving the members alternative options for serving their country.

Busan's World Expo 2030 bid isn't the first case in which BTS has been invited to promote events deemed important by politicians. The group has promoted the Seoul Metropolitan Government and several events hosted by the central and local governments. Former President Moon Jae-in even appointed them as the “special presidential envoy for future generations and culture” and brought them with him to the United Nations General Assembly in New York last year.

Given the great benefits they can expect from BTS' star power, ruling party politicians, including Yoon, will likely seek out ways to give them the military exemptions, according to Rhee Jong-hoon, head of the iGM political consultancy.

“Politicians have probably been weighing the (possible) gains and losses. Given the voices opposed to giving BTS the privilege, it will take political determination,” he said. “My guess is that chances are higher for the members to receive military exemptions.”

Legal challenges ahead without new special law

Under the current law, all able-bodied men here must serve at least 18 months in the military under a conscription system established to defend the country against threats from North Korea, as the two sides technically remain at war.

Exemptions can be given to Olympic medalists and Asian Games gold medalists. But for artists, the conditions are less clear-cut: winners of domestic competitions as well as the No. 1 and No. 2 places in international competitions can receive the privilege, but not all competitions are recognized by the government. The Military Manpower Administration (MMA), which sets the rules, recognizes five Korean and 37 international competitions. So in theory, the MMA could grant exemptions simply by adding other events, such as the Billboard Hot 100, to the list.

However, Lee Ki-sik, the commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration under the Ministry of National Defense, told lawmakers during a recent meeting that the rules have remained the same for many years and, if they were to change, there should be considerable discussion, hinting that he wouldn't go along with it.

There is another way. When the national football team reached the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup, the public went gaga over their unprecedented accomplishment, encouraging the National Assembly to draw up a special law to give the team military exemptions. Members of the baseball team that finished third at the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic received the same treatment.

Rep. Sung Il-jong of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) is one of the lawmakers who believes BTS deserves the same. Earlier this year, he was confident about passing a bill he proposed to grant its members exemptions, saying that lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) were also supportive. But the two sides have so far failed to reach an agreement.

After the government changed from the liberal Moon to the conservative Yoon administration, opposition lawmakers are likely to think twice about what would be politically beneficial mainly for Yoon and PPP lawmakers, experts said.

“If the PPP fails to draw the opposition party's support, it may be tempted to change the MMA's rules to give exemptions to BTS. But it's a risky move,” said Cho Jin-man, an associate professor of politics and international relations at Duksung Women's University. “Military service is one of the four duties written into the Constitution. If someone brings the issue to court, it could be politically damaging to the administration and the party.”

Objections of young male voters

Exemptions for BTS would likely alienate many young men ― many of whom voted for Yoon in the March 9 presidential election.

Many find the idea of such exemptions unfair and enforcing them would run counter to “fairness” and “common sense” ― the values Yoon promised to restore if elected.

A poll released in April by a civic group shows that more than 68 percent of 2,334 respondents, mostly men in their 20s, said they did not support the idea. In another poll conducted earlier that month by Realmeter, 59 percent of a more diverse group of 1,004 respondents, including women, said they supported it.

For young male voters who have already been disappointed by many of Yoon's policies and the factional infighting within the PPP, exempting BTS from conscription could be the last straw, Cho said.

“Yoon was elected on the promise of restoring fairness. I think it would be politically risky to push for the idea,” he said. “The issue should be discussed and concluded in the Assembly. Perhaps it should consider removing military exemptions altogether.”

The controversy emerged in 2018 after BTS rose to international fame. Lawmakers, including Rep. Ha Tae-keung and Rep. Noh Woong-rae, took issue with giving military exemptions only to classical musicians, not pop singers, saying the current system is ridiculous and unfair.

BTS and its agency HYBE previously said the members will answer the call of duty when the time comes, but the members have yet to mention any specific plans for enlisting.

Asked about the issue in June, Yoon refused to give a direct response, saying, “the Assembly may change related rules according to the opinions of the people.”