Ministry of Defense announces decision to abolish celebrity recruit unit

[frantastic.livejournal.com]

After completing their investigation into the issues raised regarding celebrity recruits in the military, the Ministry of Defense held a press conference to announced their decision.

The most pressing question on hand was whether the celebrity recruit department would be abolished as it had been in place for the past 16 years. The Ministry of Defense announced today that they will indeed abolish the system.

"After the investigation on the promotional department of the military, we have decided to abolish the 'promotional support brigade' [which the celebrity recruits are under]," said the spokesperson.

On why they decided to make this decision, the rep said, "The promotional support brigade was set up to promote the military and raise the morale of soldiers, but due to the unpleasant issues that have occurred, the military's image has only been tarnished... It has also brought down the morale of other soldiers who have been diligently serving... As the purpose of the celebrity soldier branch is to promote the military, the public's faith is important, but due to various problems, we have only lost the public's faith."

As for the punishment of celebrity soldiers they've found to have performed problematic acts, the Ministry of Defense revealed that 8 will be receiving punishment following the regulations laid out in their department. All 15 celebrity soldiers in the current 'promotional support brigade' will be reassigned to different units on August 1st.

For the 3 celebrity soldiers who have 3 months or less until their discharge, they will be reassigned to an active duty unit to carry out the same tasks that ordinary soldiers are asked to do.

The celebrity soldiers receiving punishment will be reassigned to a new unit after they've carried out their punishment.

The spokesperson said in conclusion, "We are sorry for causing concern to the citizens on the matters regarding celebrity soldiers. We fully realize the need to take responsibility for the insufficient management."

Source: Star Today, Star News via akp

Comments

[hipployta.livejournal.com]

They fucked it up for everyone *smh*

Rain...you started this shit storm man...*smh*

[twinedays.livejournal.com]

a few just had to spoil it for everyone else.

[molly-hime.livejournal.com]

Good tbh

[oppameansit.livejournal.com]

ha ha

[purekpopology.livejournal.com]

this is for the best. as they say "this is why we can't have nice things" the intent of the special unit was good, but celebrities abused it and ruined it for everyone.

[sergel02.livejournal.com]

I share these thoughts. I mean, it was always controversial, but nothing this major before Rain and Se7en.

[rawbabyoctopus.livejournal.com]

Equal treatment regardless of their celebrity status.
I think this is really good, honestly.

[sacryde.livejournal.com]

mte, came here to say exactly that

[runandtelldat.livejournal.com]

Good. Bitches ain't Captain America. Ain't nobody got time for that.

[atelierlune.livejournal.com]

So, Heechul's Sungdong Cafe is done for?

[molly-hime.livejournal.com]

Well he's getting out soon anyway. And he's on public service so it's possible it might continue? idk but I think it'll be an end to things like 'celebrity soldier musicals'.

[allegsiseu.livejournal.com]

so the purpose of the unit was to promote the army, but what were the task the people in them were supposed to do?

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

They concerts (shows) at various military installations and also free concerts for soldiers and sometimes the public with first come first serve type tickets. Spread the good word about the Military and keep soldier morale up.

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

effective immediately
whoa that's some shit but good yeah good. Watch now idols from here on out will beg to be none active or what's that shit Heechul is under, public service. wtf is that!?
Tell us the punishment.

[yukahoo.livejournal.com]

I don't get why public service gets such a bad rap. It's still two years of their life that they are giving up to serve the public.

It's more than I'll ever do 'cause my country doesn't have mandatory service for women...

[candycrush808.livejournal.com]

It's all fun and games till someone gets poked in the eye. Now everyone's on restriction.

[hearttaek.livejournal.com]

Rain and seven are like those kids in class you hate because they've ruined it for everybody.

Good on the ministry of defense for gaining a backbone.

HAH. Rain's out already and didnt even get any punishment. Those guys who were left must hate his guts. I dont blame them one bit

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

Rain did get punishment for the infraction he did early that year (re the riding in the car and getting gifts from his girl) Docked pay and barracks restriction for weeks.
As for the sauna shit he wasn't there with those 2 getting their poles waxed. That's what wasn't clarified for the masses nor was it corrected just the broad info he too was there. (at the hotel the whole unit stayed in)

[awsteven.livejournal.com]

it's for the best tbh.

[aleash1989.livejournal.com]

Just the news I wanted to hear about this whole mess tbh.

[royu-kiyo.livejournal.com]

This sounds too good to be true. Let's see if MoD actually keeps their soldiers on a leash.

[dorkiilove.livejournal.com]

these are the same type of people who are dumb enough to cheat on a takehome midterm and get caught so that the takehome final is now a test in class.


dumb dumb dumb

[odd-fish-stick.livejournal.com]

"For the 3 celebrity soldiers who have 3 months or less until their discharge, they will be reassigned to an active duty unit"

Heechul and Who else?

[yukahoo.livejournal.com]

Heechul wasn't in the celebrity unit though. Leeteuk was but dunno when he's due out...

[angel-9-lives.livejournal.com]

merg. I agree that the celebrities should be treated the same as the rest, but with all the talk of Yunho having to enlist soon... >.<;;

[lieselmeminger.livejournal.com]

honestly as a yunho stan i wouldn't want him to serve as a celebrity soldier anyway. they got hated on by the general public and it would be really bad for his image. would be much better to just serve as a regular active duty soldier imo

[zuluuluz.livejournal.com]

welp, they certainly got media promotion

Who else is in the celeb unit?

[anconeous.livejournal.com]

I can remember Sangchu, Leeteuk, Se7en, Kim Hyesung...

Re: Who else is in the celeb unit?

[carmine-pink.livejournal.com]

Not sure if this is correct but I found this list of people who appeared in that military musical with Leeteuk:

8eight’s Lee Hyun, Yoon Hak, actors Ji Hyun Woo, Jung Tae Woo, musical actor Kim Moo Yul

[lieselmeminger.livejournal.com]

good tbh, celebrities should have to serve the same way everyone else does. no special treatment

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

ah, I don't know what to think about this tbh
Don't athele have special treatment too? Like they can avoid the whole thing (I don't remember if it's the case in SK)

As much as I find it unfair for everyone else, I can also understand why celebrety have (had) a special treatment, they basically make a living out of their body (lbr not all of them make money cause they can sing) and the money maker can be damaged during those 2 years (more or less 2 years) and the public will lose interest

so idk really, in a way I'm like "yeah equal treatment" but I'm also not so sure

[the-erotomanic.livejournal.com]

i think if you win a medal in the olympics you're exempt from military duties. i'm not sure if it has to be a gold, though.

[love4movies.livejournal.com]

This decision is a step in the right direction.

The army wanted to utilize the popularity of celebs to brush up its image, but it back-fired, because they obviously laid down different rules for celebrity soldiers than for regular soldiers. All the scandals that happened were only possible, because the army made them possible. They urgently had to re-think the system. It can only be in the interest of the celebs to stay under the radar regarding an issue that is as charged with emotions as the mandatory army service in SK.

So who are the 8 to be punished? Se7en, Sangchu and?

[asth77.livejournal.com]

gr8.

[earthequality.livejournal.com]

Enews had more details in their article (which I'm trying to find the link for), but basically, seven of those eight are being assigned to units near the DMZ. Shit doesn't get any more serious than that.

Though the DM was originally considering military jail time, the DMZ border is probably looking a little better right now.

[angel-9-lives.livejournal.com]

holy wow...*wince* serious shit, indeed. x_x

[donttakethebait.livejournal.com]

lol oop at them for ruining the good thing they had going.