[Reporter’s Notebook] BTS Military Service Exemption Controversy Sparked by Political Circles

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Recently, controversy has erupted in the political sphere over whether to grant BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan) special military service exemptions. On the 12th, Seong Il-jong, the Policy Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, stated on the radio regarding the so-called ‘BTS Military Service Exemption Act’ that "Since this is a matter related to fairness and national interest, there should be no disagreement between the ruling and opposition parties," signaling plans to push the bill forward. The proposal is to grant BTS special military service exemptions, even though popular culture artists are not eligible for such exemptions like athletes or pure artists, despite BTS topping the Billboard charts. Essentially, this amounts to military service exemption.

However, the mood among netizens is far from favorable. Male netizens who supported the People Power Party due to its pledge to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family are expressing anger, saying "Popularity and military exemption are separate matters." They also criticize the People Power Party’s remarks calling the attendance of President Moon Jae-in and BTS at last September’s UN General Assembly a ‘show,’ accusing them of hypocrisy ("Naeronambul" ? "If I do it, it’s romance; if others do it, it’s an affair").

Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll in the United States, enlisted in the U.S. military at age 23 in 1958 during his peak years and completed two years of service at U.S. bases in West Germany. After discharge, he produced numerous hit songs and enjoyed another peak period. Members of K-pop Hallyu groups such as EXO, SHINee, and Infinite have also enlisted in the army and participated in creative musicals like ‘Return,’ ‘New Military Academy,’ and ‘Meisa’s Song,’ producing hit works. Hallyu star Hyun Bin has maintained his top star status even after completing his service in the Marine Corps. The prejudice that military service would severely damage popular culture artists is now a thing of the past.

BTS members themselves have consistently maintained that they will "serve in the military" whenever asked about military service. As the situation unfolds this way, some criticize the political sphere for seemingly encouraging BTS’s military service exemption. Especially since the conservative party, which emphasizes national security, is the first to propose military exemption, the disappointment can only deepen.

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