K-pop band BTS in spotlight over military duty exemption
Comments by outgoing minister favouring no service spark anger over privilege for wealthy
“A cultural loss for mankind.” That was the assessment of South Korean Culture Minister Hwang Hee of the implications of K-pop group BTS being made to complete mandatory military service.
Hwang’s comments on Wednesday are the clearest indication yet that the outgoing administration of President Moon Jae-in – who will hand power to president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol next week – favours exempting the superstars from what is seen as a right of passage for all able-bodied men in the country.
Even amid more pressing concerns such as escalating sabre-rattling from the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the issue continues to draw a fair amount of domestic debate given there is not much time left for laws to be amended because the first band member, 29-year-old Kim Seokjin – known as Jin – is due to be enlisted by the end of this year.
While BTS fans are overwhelmingly in favour of some exemption, there are others in the country who are vehemently against what they see as preferential treatment for the wealthy, powerful and connected.
Currently, the policy that allows waivers for some elite athletes and musicians – but not popular performers – has been a key issue of contention.
Hwang said pop artists should also be beneficiaries of the policy, which allows those who qualify to do alternative service in their respective fields instead of active military duty.
The minister said beneficiaries are those who have raised the national profile through their excellent skills and “there is no reason the pop culture field should be excluded”.
“If I hand this issue over to the next government, it would represent an act of cowardice … I don’t like to avoid this issue for fear of criticism as I am fully aware that such a measure would greatly boost the national interest,” Hwang told journalists.
Hwang urged parliament to pass bills to this effect as early as possible. The bills have been pending at the National Assembly.
“I thought somebody should be a responsible voice at a time when there are conflicting pros and cons ahead of the enlisting of some of the BTS members.”
Among those who have previously been exempted are Cho Seong-jin, the first Korean pianist to win the International Chopin Piano Competition, and Tottenham Hotspur player Son Heung-min, who led South Korea to the gold medal in men’s football at the 2018 Asian Games.
Voices of opposition meanwhile mainly come from young men who have fulfilled or will soon begin their military service, and the defence ministry has called for “prudence”.
Vice Defence Minister Park Jae-min told the National Assembly in November that it was difficult to set up clear-cut standards for pop celebrities, because their successes were different to Olympic medals for athletes or prestigious international awards for classical musicians.
There have also been signals that the new administration does not favour an exemption.
Defence minister-nominee Lee Jong-seop said on Wednesday that the ministry would take into account the decreasing number of potential conscripts due to the country’s low birth rate. “The issue of fairness should also be considered,” he said.
According to a survey by Korea Gallup last month, a majority of South Koreans – 59 per cent to 33 per cent – support an alternative to compulsory military service for BTS. But many expressed anger online at the move.
“Rich people and those who make a lot of money don’t serve military duty and only the poor and the downtrodden should protect the country. No way! Report to duty now!” wrote a user on the Naver news portal, drawing more than 1,600 likes compared to 80 dislikes.
BTS’ agency, Hybe, expressed hope the issue would be settled soon at the National Assembly.
“The uncertainty over the military draft system has been weighing on the artists,” Hybe’s chief communication officer Lee Jinhyeong said last month.
According to research by the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute last month, BTS can add up to 1.2 trillion won (HK$7.5 billion) to the country’s economy when they perform three sold out shows at the 65,000-seat Olympic Stadium in Seoul.
That would grow to 12 trillion won should they decide to perform three-night engagements 10 times a year.