K-pop supergroup BTS WILL enlist in the South Korean military following years-long debate over whether they should be exempt from obligatory service
- K-pop band BTS to serve their mandatory military duties under South Korean law
- Band’s oldest member, Jin, 29, will revoke his request to delay his conscription
- Under South Korean law, most men under age of 30 must serve in military
The members of K-pop band BTS will serve their mandatory military duties under South Korean law, their management company said Monday, effectively ending a debate on exempting them because of their artistic accomplishments.
Big Hit Music said the band’s oldest member, Jin, 29, will revoke his request to delay his conscription at the end of the month and undertake the required conscription steps.
The six other members also plan to serve in the military, according to the company’s notice to financial regulators, which it described as management-related information that could possibly affect investment decisions.
Under South Korean law, most able-bodied men under the age of 30 must perform between 18 to 21 months of military service, mainly because the country remains technically at war with nuclear-armed North Korea.
Big Hit issued another statement on Twitter, saying the company and BTS members are ‘looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment.’
The members of K-pop band BTS will serve their mandatory military duties under South Korean law, their management company said Monday, effectively ending a debate on exempting them because of their artistic accomplishments
Big Hit Music said the band’s oldest member, Jin, 29, (pictured) will revoke his request to delay his conscription at the end of the month and undertake the required conscription steps
Whether the BTS members must serve in the army had been a hotly debated issue in South Korea as Jin faced possible enlistment early next year after turning 30 in December
Refusing to complete one’s mandatory service is a crime in South Korea, and can lead to imprisonment and social stigma.
Exemptions from military service are granted to some elite athletes, such as Olympic medallists, and to classical musicians – but pop stars do not qualify.
Big Hit Music confirmed that the BTS stars, ranging in age from 25-year-old Jungkook to 29-year-old Jin will enlist in the military.
No further information on the timing of their service was given.
BTS announced a break in June from group musical activities to pursue solo projects, raising questions about the band’s future.
Under South Korean law, most able-bodied men under the age of 30 must perform between 18 to 21 months of military service, mainly because the country remains technically at war with nuclear-armed North Korea. Pictured: A South Korean navy member participates in amphibious landing drills during a joint military exercise with U.S. and Philippine navies at a naval station in Zambales province, Philippines, on October 7
The band reunited this weekend and performed together in Busan in support of the city’s EXPO bid, but only solo projects appear to be planned until 2025.
The announcement came after Lee Ki Sik, commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration, told lawmakers this month that it would be ‘desirable’ for BTS members to fulfil their military duties to ensure fairness in the country’s military service.
BTS had already benefited from a 2020 revision to the conscription law that moved the age limit for some entertainers to sign up from 28 to 30 years old.
Since South Korea’s draft interrupts young males in their professional careers or studies, the dodging of military duties or creation of exemptions is a highly sensitive issue.
Opinion surveys in recent weeks showed that the public was split over whether the BTS members should serve in the military.
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