BTS: Why is the BTS ‘military exemption’ bill suspended?

Discussions on the amendment to the Military Service Act to allow alternative military service for pop culture artists, including the group ‘BTS’, have been put on hold for now.

Members of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee actually fought sharply over the ‘fairness’ of military service exceptions with BTS in mind, but could not come to a conclusion.

The National Assembly Defense Committee held a bill review subcommittee on the morning of the 25th to discuss an amendment to the Military Service Act, also known as the ‘BTS Act’, which allows alternative service by incorporating pop culture artists who have achieved great achievements as ‘art agents’.

The current law stipulates that “athletic personnel” for winners of Asian Games gold medals and Olympic bronze medals or higher, second prizes in specific international art competitions and first prizes in domestic art competitions, and those who have received training and obtained qualifications for important intangible cultural properties for more than 5 years. It is defined as an ‘artist’.

Soccer player Son Heung-min, who won a gold medal in the Asian Games, and pianist Seong-jin Seong, who won the Chopin Piano Competition, are representative examples of exemptions.

They are given an opportunity for alternative military service, but the core of the amendment bill is to include only the field of popular culture and art.

At the meeting, some lawmakers argued that it was reasonable to give them an opportunity to receive special military service in consideration of the huge economic ripple effect caused by BTS. However, there was also the opinion that more in-depth discussion is needed in consideration of public opinion sensitive to military service.

The National Defense Commission’s People’s Power secretary and so-called chairperson Seong Il-jong said, “Who is more proud of the nation, between the first prize winner of the classical music competition held in Seoul and the grand prize at the ‘American Music Awards’ in the United States, the home of pop?” As a chair, he insisted on the need for revision.

Rep. Seong also presented a report by the Hyundai Research Institute that states, ‘The economic value of one Olympic medal is up to 269 billion won, but the economic inducing effect of BTS is about 56 trillion won over 10 years’.

Rep. Kim Jin-pyo of the Democratic Party of Korea proposed a new standard that restricts those who receive special military service exemptions only to those who have received the Order of Sports and Culture.

It is narrowing the scope of the military service exemption, but as BTS received the Hwagwan Cultural Medal, the path for BTS’s military service exemption is open.

The opposing views were fiercely contested. It is argued that, in the case of K-pop, it is difficult to set objective standards like in the Olympics or competitions, and there may be disputes over equity with other fields such as actors.

Kim Byung-gi, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, objected, saying, “If I win the Math Olympiad, will my military service be exempted, or if I win the game?”

“Military service should be applied equally to everyone. It is right to abolish the special system created in the early 1970s,” he said.

The problem of relative deprivation that young people in their 20s who have to go to the military can feel was also raised.

Democratic Party lawmaker Dong-min Dong-min said, “The duty of national defense is for all citizens, and when this is selectively applied, the people can feel the sense of deprivation, and the sense of disappointment of the younger generation who are sensitive to fairness.”

The Ministry of National Defense also raised a card against this.

At a regular briefing on the same day, Ministry of National Defense spokesman Boo Seung-chan said, “We have to consider the situational variables. The biggest reason is the rapid population decline. Social consensus is also necessary. Considering these factors, it is difficult to choose the expansion of the inclusion of arts and sports personnel. ‘ he said angrily.

At a briefing on the same day, the Military Manpower Administration also said, “The incorporation of pop culture artists into art and sports personnel requires careful consideration with relevant ministries in consideration of the establishment of objective standards and fairness based on the national consensus.”

As the opposition and opposition lawmakers continued to debate, the National Defense Commission bill subcommittee decided to temporarily suspend the review without making a decision on the amendment bill and to hold a public discussion process such as public hearings and meetings in the future.

Considering the public hearing schedule and the time it takes for additional discussions, the process within this year’s regular session of the National Assembly has effectively been canceled.

However, as the bill has not been repealed and is pending in the second lieutenant, there is still a possibility that it will be dealt with within the term of the 21st National Assembly.

If the Military Service Act is not revised, BTS will have to serve in the military from 2023.

According to the Military Service Act revised last year, all members applied for a postponement of enlistment until the age of 30.

According to the amended Military Service Act, outstanding people in the field of popular culture and arts who have contributed to the promotion of national prestige may receive a letter of recommendation from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and defer their enlistment until the age of 30.

BTS received the Order of Cultural Merit in 2018, becoming the only pop culture artist to receive the benefits of postponement of enlistment. Accordingly, Jin, the eldest hyung, who was born in December 1992 and had to enlist next month, earned his promotion until his birthday in December of next year.

Apart from the political discussion, BTS has suggested enlistment.

Member Jin was asked a related question at a press conference to commemorate the release of his new album ‘BE (Deluxe Edition)’ in November 2020 and said, “As a young Korean, I think military service is a natural issue. As I said every time, I will respond whenever there is a call from the country. If the time comes and there is a call, I will respond at any time. I often talk with the members, and I plan to accept all of them for military service.”

In the second mixtape (music produced for non-commercial purposes and distributed free of charge) ‘D-2’, which was released in May of last year, Suga said, “The military will take care of them when the time comes, so they sold our names and tried to put a spoon on them. He even added the lyrics, “Everybody shut up.”

Online reactions to the news of the suspension of the amendment to the Military Service Act are also showing various reactions.

On Twitter, a fan wrote, “Is it really beneficial to send BTS to the military or not to send them to the army?”

Another fan chimed in, saying, “They (members of the National Assembly) have absurdly devised a strategy, so they don’t even go to the military, and they don’t send their children to BTS, right?”

In addition, reactions such as “I want BTS to go to the army. I want to see a good soldier” and “Why are the lawmakers more upset when BTS didn’t ask for an exemption?”