Will BTS be exempt from military service? National Assembly may decide soon

[broadcities.livejournal.com]

A new amendment that would include popular culture figures who “elevate national prestige” for special allowances is expected to be discussed in the National Assembly.

A National Assembly push to amend the Military Service Act to include popular musical artists among those exempted from mandatory military service is drawing major attention.

If the amendment is passed, special allowances could be granted not just to Olympic medalists, but also to musical artists seen as having “elevated national prestige,” including members of the K-pop group BTS.

At a meeting of the National Assembly National Defense Committee’s legislative review subcommittee Thursday, discussion procedures began on a partial amendment to the Military Service Act proposed on June 5 by the People Power Party’s Yoon Sang-hyun and 15 other lawmakers.

The amendment would involve granting privileges for figures in the area of popular culture when it comes to mandatory military service. It is expected to be tabled for debate during the committee’s next meeting.

Referring to the amendment, Yoon and the bill’s other sponsors said that the current enforcement decree for the Military Service Act does not include the field of popular culture as eligible for special allowances, meaning that popular culture entertainers who have contributed to elevating national prestige have not been eligible for benefits afforded to those in other fields.

They said that the proposal to amend the law and enforcement decree was intended “for the sake of equity,” so those in the field of popular culture could be eligible for special allowances for their military service.

The current Military Service Act enforcement decree states that special allowances may be granted to individuals who realize certain achievements — medaling at the Olympics, Asian Games, and other international sports competitions in the case of athletes, and winning at classical music and dance competitions for those in the performing arts.

But singers and actors have not been entitled to special allowances even when they receive awards at international singing competitions or film festivals.

In a previous examination report, the National Defense Committee suggested it would not be receptive to the amendment.

According to its analysis, the standards for popular culture are less objective, without the same kind of indicators of credibility and representativeness as Olympic medals or awards from classical music competitions. It also voiced concerns over the equity debate intensifying as other new areas, such as breakdancing, make growing calls to expand preferential treatment.

Additionally, it cited the fact that activities in such areas were directly related to activities for personal profit.

Those in the field of popular culture have been throwing their support behind the amendment’s passage.

“In the area of fine arts, people receive military service benefits even when they win an award from a competition held by a South Korean newspaper. It’s debatable just how ‘credible’ or ‘representative’ that is,” said Choi Kwang-ho, secretary-general of the Korea Music Contents Association.

“Breakdancing, which could be seen as a form of popular culture, was adopted as an official event at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, and [South Korean performers] have a good chance of medalling there, so they could be entitled to special exemptions from military service,” he said.

Choi said the treatment faced by singers and performers was “reverse discrimination.”

 Jung Hyuk-june for The Hankyoreh

Do you think BTS will end up serving in the military?

Comments

[dantethetaco.livejournal.com]

Do you think BTS will end up serving in the military?

100% they are doing if they want to keep a career in SK, and for their own mental health.

“Breakdancing, which could be seen as a form of popular culture, was adopted as an official event at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, and [South Korean performers] have a good chance of medalling there, so they could be entitled to special exemptions from military service,”

League of Legends (and other videogames) are also going to be part of the 2022 Asian Games, so it's going to be funny when Faker and the rest of korean LOL players get an exemption and not BTS, because the only rivals the koreans have are the chinese. So they are basically guaranteed a medal.

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

I think they should, they are all about setting an example. So get that out of the way, put their mind and body on other things and a restfrom the public eye. KOR wants to pull away from celeb special treatment so this would be time to start.
*I know one has back issues so if he gets a release that would be appropriate.
I hope they do.

[ty.livejournal.com]

Set an example and make a stand toward ending the Korean war.

Watch DP.

The Korean war ... well, never mind, none of anyone who has commented so far would understand

[tao-paipai.livejournal.com]

I don't understand... Is that sarcasm or?

Because do you really think a war that is based on money and political influence from the cold war will end because some idols have enlisted?

I live in a country that is suffering an economic recession in 2021 because of things that happened during the cold war... So... Yeah... I don't think the war will end like that.

[sinnamon roll (from livejournal.com)]

I don’t think other celebs nor the general public will be happy if they’re exempted. I think they should go as a group ASAP, during the pandemic the length of service is less and it’s not like they can travel. Now is the perfect time for them

[radowan.livejournal.com]

I totally would understand if they don't want to go because my lazy ass wouldn't either. That said, I think the best thing for them would be to enlist all at the same time while reruns of SOOP 1 & 2 circulate on platforms lmao

[nudrive.livejournal.com]

Tbh enlistment would be a nice break for them in comparison to normal idol activities and they basically have to eat and sleep properly which is a huge plus too lol

[radowan.livejournal.com]

ohhh good point!! I wonder tho if they will get some special treatment to prevent the kind of spying that has been done to idols in the military before? I can't remember specifics but I think there were a few who had their privacy breached.

[nudrive.livejournal.com]

Oh really? I've not heard much about that so idk.

[ty.livejournal.com]

NICE BREAK?


Watch DP on Netflix. The Korean Army is toxic as fuck.

[nudrive.livejournal.com]

Prob depends on what unit you get enlisted in and I'm just going off what some idols said, I think 2pm's Junho said that he managed to do a lot of reading and other stuff. And him or maybe someone else mentioned that they managed to eat and sleep well as oppose to their idol lifestyle where they were forced diet and got hardly any sleep so 🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️

[tao-paipai.livejournal.com]

Other idols have commented on how going to the military was good for their mental and physical health...

[rennehollic.livejournal.com]

I know it's a cultural (and historical) thing and we have to respect it, but still think that going to the military should be up to the individual as it is in many countries.

but I also understand if they go as, they probably still want to have their SK fanbase and not have a bunch of people attacking them for not going

[dantethetaco.livejournal.com]

I know it's a cultural (and historical) thing and we have to respect it, but still think that going to the military should be up to the individual as it is in many countries.


It's a country at war, that's why enlistment is obligatory.

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

If they get exempted I can see plenty of other stans/agencies from other boybands trying to achieve the same.

[broadcities.livejournal.com]

yeah i wonder what would be the benchmark for getting exempted — the article states that the amendment would count for both actors and singers. i can see the point that it is strange that e.g. some sportspeople and classical artists can get exempted, but pop artists cannot, but like the article states, what prizes would be considered 'objective' for pop artists and actors? getting music show wins or winning at yearly award shows, both nationally and internationally, would not be suitable i think because they're so much based on fanbase power.

perhaps this is why bts is trying so hard to win a grammy, because it is arguably decided by an 'objective' (citation needed) committee if i am correct

[em-cavey.livejournal.com]

That was my thinking too, re: the grammy
Like it’s hardly an objective accomplishment lol but it’s still something concrete and rarified they and the govt can use for for justification

[ty.livejournal.com]

And that is a problem why?

Exactly why have they been patrolling the border?

[babycheeses1.livejournal.com]

Hmm I see them either getting an exemption or an altered/shortened not-active-duty kinda service. But tbh I don't think they should agree to either because it will for sure sour their relationship and standing with the Korean gp and the rest of the Korean entertainment world. Buuuuut their company is so money hungry, they just might be willing to sacrifice that for all the 💵 international fans bring under the guise that they're better-off serving their country by bringing in tourists and money to the South Korean economy.

[hallyujah.livejournal.com]

Not really a guise though. Those 7 guys contribute FAR more to Korea by being BTS and the economic/tourist/international prestige etc that comes along with that than being 7 dudes enlisting amongst thousands and thousands of others. (But yea HYBE's motives would be purely financial).

[babycheeses1.livejournal.com]

Oh yes I agree with you a 100% (and yup about Hybe's motives being purely financial and not patriotic lol but they'd sell it as that)

[em-cavey.livejournal.com]

Yeah I remember a while back some numbers came out about how much money they've brought into the Korean economy over their career and I can't remember the exact figures but it was insane. I don't think they should be exempted but in purely practical terms, they'd "serve" the country better by keeping that up rather than being sent to run drills and shovel snow out in the sticks somewhere lol

[purpleglaceon]

Like others said, if they get exempted they will be so hated in korea, it's almost career suicide. And there's no way they can have a clear line of who can get exempted so there will be bias at play and it will get messy.

[ty.livejournal.com]

Hated based on what? jk Initiating change?

[921227.livejournal.com]

100% they should serve their service.

In the future if exemptions for pop singers/actors becomes possible that's different. But these guys grew up and started their idol careers with the expectation of doing it.

And lbr they'll join the military musicians or some public service so

[babyjenkski.livejournal.com]

I love then and will be sad when the enlist and will definitely miss seeing all of them perform. But I want them to to enlist. I'm afraid of all the hate they'll get if they don't.

Timing-wise, I still believe BTOB was lucky. The maknae line was active while the hyungs were serving. Now its the maknaes turn and BTOB4U has been keeping BTOB's name active. Plus its the pandemic, they can't do tours anyways. Then on their 10th yr, they'll be complete.

[premonitioner.livejournal.com]

if your fandom can't survive an 18-24 month hiatus, then perish

if you and your company can't survive off your immense royalties then burn to the ground for all I care

[daynr.livejournal.com]

Cackling at this truth

[ty.livejournal.com]

I am not from SK, so I have no performative hard-ass opinion about how important it is they serve. It has nothing to do with the fandom surviving, that is the stupidest thing besides the Met fashion thread I have read all day. There is plenty of evidence to show that fandoms do not leave their faves once they get back from leave. Dictionary Entry: Kim Soo Hyun Cameo on Hotel del Luna.

In my opinion, if that country decides that some people, be it idol or athlete, have contributed more to the country, then let them make that decision.

It's history time people. There has never been a BTS in Korean history. let that country decide on their own.

Is there anyone here commenting with their opinions who is actually from SK?

[em-cavey.livejournal.com]

It's unlikely but I can see it happening tbh. I’m sure BH and the govt have done the math and the economic benefits of exemption are probably hard to deny, esp if tourism comes back up soon (they’re already filming Seoul tourism ads lol). And with the recent diplomatic passports and stuff, it seems like the govt is leaning more on making them especially 'distinguished.' But it would absolutely open up bts and the govt to tons of both rational and irrational criticism. Tbf their fanbase is so massive and intense that they could probably just coast off that for as long as they need but making the rest of society unnecessarily hostile and resentful of them can’t possibly be a good thing. Not to mention if the standards for enlistment are even going to try to be fair and just, this is a pretty awful precedent to set. Even though the exemptions for “elevating national prestige” are already bullshit imo, there’s good reasons why more typical celebrities like idols and actors aren’t included.

Plus in most cases, celebs are among the few for whom enlistment is usually a healthy experience and a chance to step outside of their claustrophobically self-centered lives. I think I’d feel weirdly sad for the members if they don’t go at all, which is not sth I ever thought I’d say about enlistment lmao. For some reason I feel like this would be the last chance the guys get to tether themselves to “normal” society when they’re still young before they get too completely lost in the alienation of their astronomical wealth and fame.

In short (echoing what a lot of kfans seem to be saying): just go and get it over with, it'll be fine

[rainstormraider.livejournal.com]

Their fandom can survive the drought. Send them all in at the same time. It’ll be fine. Don’t they have like a shitload of content they’re always coming out with anyhow?

They said they wanna go so let them. These unending debates on this one band getting an exemption are boring af tbh.

Also isn’t this the year they have to start going anyway? They could’ve gone during COVID and would’ve already been out by now if they’d planned it right.