Pop idols can postpone service
South Korea’s parliament has passed a law to allow its globally renowned pop stars to postpone their mandatory military service, to avoid disrupting their careers at the height of their fame.
The bill, passed by the National Assembly, offers an exceptional temporary reprieve to celebrity boy bands such as BTS.
The seven-member group, who sell out stadiums worldwide, have been widely praised for promoting South Korea’s reputation and soft power.
The revision to the Military Service Act was proposed in September, after BTS became the first South Korean pop artists to top the United States Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with their song Dynamite.
The legislation means that BTS fans no longer face the imminent upset of losing the group’s eldest member, Jin, who turns 28 this week and would have been drafted by the end of the year
under the previous rules.
South Korea’s Military Service Act requires every man aged 18 to 28 to perform national service of almost two years.
Previously, military service exemptions or deferrals were only given to international award-winning athletes and classical musicians.
Past exemptions have been
awarded to athletes who won Olympic medals or a gold at the Asian Games.
When the latest change is signed off by a presidential decree, acclaimed pop stars may put off military service until age 30 if the culture minister rules that they are making a significant contribution to South Korea’s global standing.