The “special military service” issue is not simply an issue of “Let’s send BTS (to the military) or not”. Before placing them on the cutting board, you must first have a clear understanding of this system.
This time’s Q&A format is Q&D. Dispatch answered the public’s curiosity. Below are some questions related to BTS.
Q: National prestige enhancing, can we talk about BTS without mentioning it?
D: According to the Korea Culture and Tourism Research Institute, the economic ripple effect of BTS’ concerts is up to 1,220.7 billion won. If there are 10 concerts, the economic effect will reach 12 trillion won. If global ARMYs account for half of the audience, the consumption creation will be 742.2 billion won, the production inducement effect will be 1,220.7 billion won and the value-added inducement effect will be 570.5 billion won.
Las Vegas has already experienced benefits. The number of people who gathered at the Bellagio fountain show alone is 200,000. 114,000 people visited the pop-up store and photo exhibition. This is twice the number of CES visitors (45,000). More than 10,000 people visited the BTS Korean food restaurant, and 3,500 BTS-themed rooms held at 11 hotels under MGM were sold out.
Q: The prejudice that popular culture is not art?
D: The current military service law is still in 1973. It has not escaped from the formulas of “classical music = national prestige enhancing” and “traditional music = cultural development”.
50 years have passed. K-pop is shaking the world. Some people call BTS’ concerts the Olympics. Spectators from all over the world wave their national flags. Obviously, BTS is the number one contributor to promoting Korea. They are the main characters in expanding Hallyu to the world. Their economic effect needs no further explanation.
Q: Where will the 2022 Military Service Law go?
The flow of military service law has been in line with the “age”. When Lee Chang-ho’s Go conquest was necessary, we applied under a special law. When the Taegeuk Warriors desperately needed to advance to the semifinals, we raised their spirit with a special law. What about 2022? This is an era where BTS is searched more than KOREA. However, the Korean military service law still depends on international competitions designated by UNESCO.
