Ruling party puts BTS' military service on table again

Members of K-pop group BTS pose after performing their latest single "Dynamite" on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," Friday. / Courtesy of Big Hit Entertainment

By Park Han-sol

K-pop sensation BTS' military service is on the table again as some ruling party lawmakers called for an exemption of the group members' enlistment obligation this week.

"In this era where singer-songwriter Bob Dylan wins a Nobel Prize in Literature, it is old-fashioned to belittle pop culture and exclude artists in this field from preferential treatment in the military," Rep. Noh Woong-rae of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said during his appearance on a radio show of local broadcaster MBC, Tuesday.

In Korea, which requires all able-bodied male citizens aged 18 and older to serve in the military for at least 18 months, special treatment such as exemptions or deferrals are currently offered to high-achieving athletes, artists and classical musicians who have contributed to the promotion of national prestige. These contributions are measured by medals and awards won at international sports events or designated arts competitions, according to the Military Service Act.

But as K-pop celebrities continue to take the global entertainment scene by storm, a recent string of debates have been ignited over whether the measure should also be applicable to BTS and other prominent pop idols.

The three-term lawmaker has emphasized BTS' role in serving Korea's national interest, arguing that "the group has created an economic ripple effect worth 1.7 trillion won ($14.7 billion) by blasting in at No. 1 on the Billboard chart."

"The value that BTS generated in terms of spreading Korean pop culture and promoting national prestige is immeasurably high," Noh said during the party's Supreme Council meeting the previous day.

In response to criticism that the standard of preferential treatment in regard to military service for K-pop idols would not be as clearly stipulated as that of athletes and classical artists, Noh suggested establishing an independent review committee with experts that can determine their eligibility. He even recommended utilizing the group in national PR campaigns for South Korea's sovereignty of the Dokdo islets, for example, in lieu of serving in the military.

Last month, another DPK lawmaker Jeon Yong-gi proposed a revision bill to the Military Service Act to allow K-pop stars to postpone their enlistment until they turn 30.

"Besides pop artists, there are careers such as pro-gamers where one can flourish in their 20s," Jeon said in a radio interview, calling for the 47-year-old military law to be revised to properly deal with such issue.

But not all DPK members agree with the idea.

Park Seong-min, a young member of the ruling party's Supreme Council, said the party's push for BTS to be exempted from military service could rather put pressure on the boy band members who have repeatedly stated that they will dutifully serve the country.

"But on the other hand, some say it will be better to guarantee the worldwide sensation's activities so the country can enjoy the positive aspects arising from the exemption of their duty. We are discussing the two different positions," she said.

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