S.Korea dogged by draft-dodging celebrities
SEOUL — Serving in the military is a duty that falls upon every able-bodied Korean male, but 73.9 percent of the country’s entertainers have delayed enlistment, according to a lawmaker.
Of the 794 male entertainers due for enlistment, 587 have yet to sign up, according to a statement released by Kim Hack-yong of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party on Thursday.
The percentage of those putting off enlistment among entertainers was far higher than those in other fields of work. The figure was 43.3 percent among athletes and 47.5 percent among public servants.
About 44 percent of those in the high-income group — those with annual income of over 500 million won ($441,618) — were found to be postponing their enlistment.
Although it is customary for Korean males to enlist in their early 20s, most celebrities start their military service in their late 20s or early 30s. This gives them time to establish a name for themselves before the two-year hiatus.
Among the K-celebrities pushing back the enlistment date, 77 were with YG-related companies. Fifty of them were affiliated with modeling agency YG KPlus while 27 have contracts with YG Entertainment.
FNC Entertainment had 32 of its celebrities delaying military service, while Liveworks Company and Starship Entertainment followed with 24 each.
Ealier this year, 30-year-old rapper YG’s T.O.P. started his trouble-ridden military service, which was marked by being dismissed from his original duties as a conscripted policeman for smoking marijuana. His Big Bang bandmates are also due to start their duties in the near future.
Fellow K-pop star Kyuhyun of boyband Super Junior and actors Lee Min-ho, Joo Won and Kang Ha-neul, who are all in their late 20s or early 30s, enlisted in the military this year.
Although most celebrities delay joining the military for as long as possible, draft dodging has been a careerender in the country where service is mandated for half of the population.
In the early 2000s, then-Kpop superstar Steven Yoo — known then as Yoo Seung-jun — saw his career crumble after he flip-flopped on his word to serve in the military and then acquired US citizenship.
Rapper MC Mong, although cleared in court of draft-dodging charge, saw his popularity take a severe hit amid suspicions that he had teeth extracted to be exempted from military duty.
Conscription law was recently revised to monitor military duties of celebrities, athletes, high-income citizens and prominent public servants and their children.
“For a long time, the public has been suspicious over military duties of celebrities or athletes. I hope that the law revision will motivate them to responsibly fulfill their military duties,” said Kim.