Ahn Cheol-soo Visits BTS Agency 'HYBE' Saying "We Must Normalize the Performance Industry... Military Service Special Cases Are Not Up for Discussion"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, visited HYBE, the agency of BTS, on the 2nd to discuss ways to develop popular culture. Chairman Ahn explained that the issue of BTS's military service exemption was not discussed during this visit.

Chairman Ahn and members of the Social Welfare and Culture Subcommittee of the Transition Committee visited HYBE in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, in the afternoon and held a meeting with Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of the board, and others.

Introducing himself as a first-generation venture entrepreneur, Chairman Ahn said, "The performing arts sector has been severely impacted by COVID-19. It seems necessary to find sustainable ways to hold performances," adding, "The culture and performance industries are struggling greatly due to COVID-19, so please share what role the government should play now."

In response, Chairman Bang said, "We are still receiving very limited audience quotas, making actual performances difficult," and lamented, "While reopening is imminent and most restrictions on audience numbers are being lifted in sports and musicals, public performances are still limited to venues with fewer than 5,000 seats regardless of the size of the performance hall."

He continued, "I feel that our society somewhat undervalues popular arts," appealing, "I hope social perceptions will become more favorable toward popular arts."

Chairman Ahn and the transition committee members toured the studio and practice rooms at HYBE's headquarters. After finishing the visit, Chairman Ahn returned to the Transition Committee office in Tongui-dong and told reporters, "The success rate of venture companies is low and they face many hurdles, so I went to hear what role the government can play to increase the chances of success even a little."

He further explained the purpose of the visit, saying, "Personally, I believe the normalization of the performance industry is a symbol of the return to daily life," and "I also heard about the current damage caused by COVID-19 in the performing and cultural arts sectors."

The spokesperson for the Transition Committee said that Chairman Ahn mentioned the German government's early COVID-19 analysis of airflow inside performance venues. They also noted that he said the government and large corporations need to play an active role in creating sustainable performances so that small companies can survive and maintain diversity.

Chairman Ahn conveyed that there was no mention of BTS's military service exemption, which had attracted public attention. He said, "(There was) no mention at all regarding BTS's military service exemption," but added, "It is likely an issue to be discussed and decided by the newly launched government together with the National Assembly."

A bill to amend the Military Service Act, which includes provisions to allow popular culture artists who have achieved great accomplishments to be incorporated as 'art personnel' for alternative service, is currently pending in the National Assembly.

He stated, "I am trying hard to listen to voices from the field," and pledged to continue field visits at the transition committee level.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.