'BTS Military Service Exemption' Sparks Debate Between Ruling and Opposition Parties: "We Must Consider National Interest" vs. "They Earn Too Much Money"

Winners of Jeonju Daesaseupnori National Competition Also Exempt from Military Service
Ruling Party: "No Discrimination Against Popular Culture Artists"
Opposition: "Young Farmers Also Promote National Prestige" Backlash

The offline job fair for military personnel, which had not been held due to COVID-19, was held for the first time in three years. On the 11th, soldiers were looking for jobs at the "2022 First Half 1st Military Personnel Job Fair" held at Kintex Hall 5 in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. This event featured over 120 company booths for recruitment interviews and consultations, as well as recruitment briefings and special lectures by notable figures. The Ministry of National Defense plans to hold a total of three job fairs this year, including this first fair, with additional events scheduled for June and September. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The so-called 'BTS Military Service Special Exemption' issue has sparked heated debates not only in the political sphere but also in related public opinion polls.

In the case of artists, those who win awards in domestic and international competitions receive special military service exemptions under the current Military Service Act. The political circles recognize that the current Military Service Act does not include popular culture artists and have proposed bills to amend it.

According to the 'Status of Special Military Service for Artistic Personnel since 2000' obtained by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-gi from the Military Manpower Administration, a total of 607 individuals received special military service exemptions from 67 domestic and international competitions.

The competition that produced the most special exemption recipients was the Dong-A Gugak Competition, with 87 people over 22 years. This averages about 4 people per year, but in some years, it produced 8 recipients (2007) and 7 recipients (2012, 2013, 2014).

Competitions focusing on Korean traditional music and dance, such as the Jeonju Daesaseupnori National Competition (56 recipients), Dong-A Dance Competition (55 recipients), and National New Dance Contest (51 recipients), also granted many special exemptions to outstanding performers. The Seoul International Dance Competition (47 recipients) and Onnara Gugak Competition (26 recipients) were also recognized as special exemption competitions starting in 2009 and 2006, respectively, indicating a significant number of exemptions. In some years, as many as 6 recipients were granted exemptions.

The People Power Party holds the position that since special military service exemptions for artists are granted to promote national prestige, popular culture artists should also be included.

On the 2nd, Sung Il-jong, the Policy Committee Chair of the People Power Party, stated on a radio show, "The important thing is whether (the military service exemption) is fair."

Chairman Sung said, "There are currently 42 competitions that grant military service exemptions," adding, "In Korea, if you win the Yoon Isang Competition, you don't have to serve in the military, and if you win the Seoul International Dance Competition, you also don't have to serve." He continued, "There are about seven such competitions domestically," mentioning, "Korea Ballet Competition, Jeju International Wind Instrument Competition, Jeonju Daesaseupnori National Competition, and National New Dance Contest winners are also exempted."

The group BTS arrived at the 64th Grammy Awards venue set up at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, USA, on April 3 (local time) and posed for photos. BTS is expected to win the 'Best Pop Duo/Group Performance' category with their hit song "Butter" released last year. 2022.4.4 [Image source=Yonhap News]

He then pointed out, "However, awards like the Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, and Billboard Awards significantly elevate the country's brand, and when balancing these, there is currently an imbalance." He emphasized, "This is not the BTS law," adding, "If a second, third, or fourth BTS emerges, the country should operate fairly and provide the same opportunities, not exclude any particular musicians."

People Power Party lawmaker Lee Yong-ho also proposed an amendment to the Military Service Act to raise the age for fulfilling military service obligations for popular artists and athletes from 30 to 33 years old. The rationale is that many popular culture artists and athletes remain active even at age 30, so their opportunities should be realistically guaranteed to contribute to national interests and prestige. Lee stated, "There are many disagreements and careful consideration is needed to reach social consensus regarding the introduction of a military service special exemption system for popular culture artists," adding, "This bill was proposed to realistically extend the deadline for fulfilling military service obligations so that popular culture artists can continue to contribute to national interests before enlisting."

On the other hand, some Democratic Party lawmakers on the National Defense Committee expressed opposition to the special exemption, stating that further discussion is necessary as of the 31st of last month.

Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Kyu-baek said, "Just because someone earns a lot of money, it is unacceptable to grant such benefits (military service exemptions)." He added, "While it is true that BTS has promoted the nation in popular arts, I believe that young people studying at universities, farmers working in rural areas, and young people working at defense companies aiming for $30 billion are also promoting national prestige."

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