The amendment to the Military Service Act provides exemptions for K-pop megastars, which will improve the country’s cultural status and boost the economy.
The South Korean parliament has passed a law that allows chart-top and Grammy-nominated K-pop artists like BTS to postpone their military service to the age of 30.
All working South Korean men between the ages of 18 and 28 are required to serve approximately two years in the military as part of the country’s efforts to defend itself against North Korea.
The amendment to the Military Service Act passed on Tuesday should provide exemptions for K-pop megastars, which will improve the country’s cultural status and boost the economy.
South Korea allows eligible students to postpone enrollment until the age of 28 and has granted exemptions for high-profile classical musicians, as well as athletes and athletes who have won medals in the Olympics or other major games. Tottenham Hotspur soccer player Son Heung-min is among those who have already received a special permit.
So far, no K-pop stars have received exemptions, but the new bill will ensure that entertainers recommended by the Minister of Culture can postpone their service until the age of 30.
BTS’s oldest member, Jin, 27, is nearing the entry deadline at a time when the seven-piece boy band is rewriting K-pop history.
Breaking records
Since launching in 2013, BTS has been driving the global K-pop craze with catchy, upbeat music, as well as lyrics and social campaigns to empower young people.
The song Dynamite was recently released as the very first No. 1 hit single on the US Billboard charts and received an unprecedented Grammy nomination for a K-Pop band. His new song, Life Goes On, was also the first Korean song to land at number 1 on the Billboard main singles chart.
BTS continues to break chart records! https://t.co/knCAglQYFY
– Poster (@billboard) December 1, 2020
“Pop artists tend to have their greatest success in their twenties, but many of them had to graduate to delay their service,” said Jeon Yong-gi, who co-drafted the bill.
The management of BTS, Big Hit Entertainment, did not respond to a request for comment on the change in the law, but Jin and other band members previously stated that they would perform their duties as needed.
“As a Korean, that’s natural. And one day when the service calls, we will be ready to answer and do our best, “Jin was quoted in 2019 as saying.
Military service is a controversial issue in South Korea.
A poll published last month by local news agency E-Today found that 53 percent of respondents were in favor of special treatment for BTS, while 47 percent were against.
Comments are closed.