Korean men in their 20s feel betrayed over the possibility of BTS’s military service exemption
“What are the criteria for military service exemption?”
Kim, who has won an international competition related to design in the past, expressed discomfort in relation to BTS’s military service exemption. “I’m angry when I see politicians talking about military service exemptions on a subjective basis, from professional gamers to celebrities,” he said. “I doubt that the criteria for military service exemptions depend on their popularity.” He said, “If one is the main star of the Hallyu Wave due to his high popularity, will they grant him military service exemptions, and will they cancel his military service exemptions if his popularity falls or there is a scandal?”
The most sensitive of the Korean people’s three duties is the duty of national defense. Military service is the standard of fairness for most men in their 20s who have to join the military themselves. Recently, controversy over the fairness of military service exemptions has erupted again due to the controversy over BTS‘s military service exemption.
◆ Korean men got angry as new president Yoon Seok-yeol is considering BTS’ military service exemption
According to a survey by Gallup Korea from April 5th to 7th, out of 1,004 Korean people aged 18 or older nationwide, 59% said the government should include the military service exemption for popular artists, and 33% said it should not. However, men, who are directly involved in the fairness of military service exceptions, have different opinions. A 23-year-old Lee, who recently returned to school after being discharged from the military, said, “I saw the results of the poll, but the opinion of men in their 20s, who is the subject of this fairness controversy, is the most important. BTS fans are sure to approve of the exemption, but it is not enough to claim it as a social agreement.”
The recent controversy over BTS‘ military service exemption began when President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, chairman of the presidential transition committee Ahn Cheol Soo, visited BTS‘ agency HYBE. Chairman Ahn has long insisted on BTS’s military service exemption. Although he did not directly mention it at the scene, it was natural that controversy over this law’s pros and cons began.
They even feel betrayed by President Yoon as he has been pushing for the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family throughout his presidential election campaign to stimulate the votes of men in their 20s. Park, a 28-year-old mid-sized company employee, said, “The public had high expectations for Yoon Seok-yeol and it would be disappointed if he applied for the military service exemptions by changing the rules set by the law.” He then said, “I heard that BTS performed at the recent inauguration ceremony of the President, so I doubt it has something to do with it.” Recently, Park Joo-sun, chairman of the presidential inauguration preparation committee, said that he was discussing having a BTS performance at the presidential inauguration ceremony.
Many men in their 20s who oppose the special application of BTS’s military exemption are talking about equity. If it is fact that the main center of the Korean Wave is applied for military service exemption, it can be applied to all Korean professional gamers like the ones who won the League of Legends World Championship and the cast of “Squid Game.” In fact, the application of military service exemptions to globally recognized professional gamers had been also discussed before, but it was canceled due to opposition opinions. However, if the Korean e-sports team won at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games in China, where e-sports were adopted as an official sport, military service exemptions will be recognized only for national professional gamers who participated.
◆ Korean men question the fairness in the implementation of mandatory military service
BTS has been taking the lead in the Hallyu wave by sweeping Billboard charts and American Music Awards (AMA). However, under the current law, their achievements are not included in the subject of special cases that are exempted from military service.
The current Military Service Act (Article 3-7) only grants exemptions to top artists and athletes who have contributed to the promotion of national prestige and cultural developments. Only artists and athletes who have won prizes at the Olympics, Asian Games, and international art competitions (second place or higher) are recognized as exceptions. Top artists referred to in the Military Service Act do not include pop culture artists like BTS, so alternative service is not possible.
In fact, the Ministry of National Defense is negative for now about the revision of the Military Service Act, which includes the expansion of the inclusion of art and sports personnel. According to the ministry’s spokesperson Boo Seung-chan, social consensus is necessary to ensure fair military service implementation. Therefore, it is difficult to expand the scope of special cases eligible for exemption by adding pop culture artists.
The problem is fairness and equity. In Korea’s society, there are about 45 people a year who are subject to special military service exceptions under the Military Service Act. Even this number is being scaled down due to controversy over equity. Korean men have been paying attention to substitute military service to the extent that famous soccer player Son Heung-min, who was spared almost two years of military service, was pushed ahead with volunteer work for alternative service, despite being diagnosed with COVID-19 in December last year.
BTS‘s agency, HYBE Labels, has a strong will to solve BTS‘s military exemption issue. The age of 7 members of the group ranges from 24 years old (Jungkook) to 29 years old (Jin and Suga). Among them, Jin, who was born in December 1992, has to enlist at the end of this year.
