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| BTS / Courtesy of Big Hit Music |
By Yoon Ja-young
Following the recent appointment of chartbusting boy band BTS as a presidential special envoy for public diplomacy, voices are growing louder among fans that its members should be exempt from mandatory military service.
On the Cheong Wa Dae website, a BTS fan submitted a petition demanding that all BTS members be exempted from the duty when considering the stars' contributions to Korea, including their efforts to improve the country's global image.
In the petition posted July 16, the petitioner pointed out that the group currently has had four songs that topped the Billboard charts, with its new song "Permission to Dance" still surging on the chart. The Military Manpower Administration, however, already decided to allow only a delay in their enlistment. The petitioner claimed the treatment for the stars is unfair, given that there are cases in which some athletes won the privilege "by only sitting on the bench."
The petition has garnered more than 13,000 signatures.
Voices demanding BTS be granted an exemption from military service have gotten louder on social media following the members' appointment as President Moon Jae-in's special envoy for public diplomacy July 21. As the special envoy, the members attend major international meetings including the 75th session of the U.N. General Assembly in September, delivering messages of consolation and hope to young people around the world.
Cheong Wa Dae spokeswoman Park Kyung-mee commented that the appointment would help Korea enhance its status as a leading nation in the post-COVID era, but fans started pointing out that the members should be given some benefits if the government wants to take advantage of their global stardom.
Currently, all able-bodied men of Korean nationality must carry out compulsory military service for 18 to 22 months, but international award-winning athletes as well as artists such as classical musicians and male ballet dancers can be exempt from the obligation if they contribute to the country's reputation overseas.
Following a revision to the Military Service Act last December, pop-culture celebrities including BTS can postpone their military service until they reach 30, but controversy remains as they still cannot gain a full exemption. The Korea Music Content Association pointed out that professional Go player Lee Chang-ho and pianist Cho Seong-jin as well as athletes Ryu Hyun-jin and Son Heung-min were all exempt from military service, while BTS is only allowed a deferral despite its huge global impact. Jin, the eldest member of BTS born in 1992, can delay enlistment only until next year.
BTS members themselves have not demanded an exemption. At a press conference last November, they said that they will comply with the nation's calling anytime and that they consider military service as their duty.
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