BTS, the biggest boy band in the world, will leave their fandom “army” and enlist in the South Korean military to fulfill their obligation to perform national duty.
What is the Conscription Law?
The main reason why South Korea still requires its citizens to serve in the military is that the country is technically at war with its neighbor. There is constant tension at the Korean Peninsula’s 38th parallel north latitude, which roughly forms the border separating North and South Korea. South Korea is forced to constantly be on high alert because of a nuclear-armed North Korea regularly conducting ballistic missile tests. Hence, all men between 18 and 28 who are fully capable must serve at least two years.
Although the government has the authority to give exceptional exclusions, individuals who have used these exemptions in competitions and categories that weren’t intended for them have drawn harsh criticism and questions about their fairness.
According to a report by the Associated Press, in one recent poll, over 61% of participants favored exemptions for entertainers like BTS, while in another, roughly 54% believed that BTS members should enlist.
Many South Koreans consider the band to be a national treasure, and several MPs have recommended that they be given an exemption so they can continue playing.
The seven BTS members were permitted to postpone performing their military duties until September 30. Jin is currently 29 and is the oldest. The band’s management said Monday that they would start getting ready the following month. All seven of the group’s members, the youngest of whom is 24 years old, intending to complete their duty, it said.
The band already secured a deferral by making the government make an exception for the band to postpone the obligatory duties till the age of 30.
BTS, who?
The group’s seven members, RM, Suga, Jin, J-Hope, Jimin, Jungkook, and V, were brought together by Big Hit Entertainment’s (now Hybe) founder, Bang Si-hyuk, in 2010. Before changing its name to Bangtan Boys and ultimately becoming known as BTS, the group was first known as Bulletproof Boy Scouts.
They have accomplished a lot that has never been done before in the history of entertainment, especially in South Korea. They are the most successful South Korean band ever in terms of sales, the first act from that country to top the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts, and they have received numerous international awards, including two Grammy nominations.
They are regarded as global advocates for social causes and topics like mental health, equality, and climate change, and have made three speeches to the UN General Assembly. They serve as the representatives for some of the most well-known businesses in the world, from sports to luxury lifestyle, such as Louis Vuitton and Formula E. BTS was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit by the South Korean government in 2018 in honor of their enormous influence on the world stage.
For the time being, “Each BTS member would focus on their individual activities.” –Stated the parent company, Big Hit, Hybe Corp., in an email to the Associated Press.
After telling lawmakers earlier this month that it would be “desirable” for BTS members to fulfill their military duties in order to ensure equity in the nation’s military duty, Lee Ki Sik, commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration, made the declaration.
The Military Manpower Administration officials highlighted that the artists would go through the same process as regular South Korean males and that after enrolling, Jin and other BTS members would undergo five weeks of military training before being assigned to specific units and tasks.
In August, when the band’s future was being discussed, the South Korean defense minister made the suggestion that they may continue to perform while enlisting. According to Lee Jong-sup, “There would be a way to let them perform and rehearse together.”
The group’s first anthology album, which was released earlier this year, paved the way for the members to take a break and work on their own projects. The artists will now have time to pursue their own passions and fulfill their civic responsibility by contributing to the nation they call home.
The musicians are ready to fulfill their obligations, according to a statement released on Monday by the band’s managers. According to their agency, Jin, who had first requested that his service start date be delayed, had withdrawn that request.
The announcement indicated that the band would likely not reunite for at least a few years. The management business of BTS released a statement saying, “Both the company and the members of BTS are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment.”
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