K-Pop Your guide to K-culture in Singapore!
BTS Might SKIP MILITARY SERVICE!!
- Category Misc
- Area Korea
- Author KORDOTSIN
- 20-09-15 11:35
- Views 2,661
- reply 1
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All able-bodied men in South Korea
has to serve military service before the
age of 28, and this has been the harsh
reality of many K-Pop idols as they
reach their primes of stardom.
However, BTS' immense rise to global
super-stardom might mean that they are
the first to buck this trend.
It is estimated that the boy band is
worth $4.7 billion to South Korea, with
their recent hit 'Dynamite' alone generating
$1.4 billion for the economy, and thousands
of new jobs created.
A fan-made graph, charting the possible
3-year break of BTS' service.
Due to this, many have been calling
for the boy band members to be exempted
from their military duty, as it may represent an
abrupt halt to their global success.
Lawmakers and fans point to the current
system granting exemptions to individuals
with outstanding achievements, such as classical
musicians with international awards, or athletes
with Olympic medals.
However, pop artists are not eligible for this.
Recently, Defense Minister nominee Suh Wook
said that the ministry should consult with the public
before deciding whether to grant the members
of K-pop group BTS exemptions
from mandatory military service.
Only time will tell if the talks amount
to anything, with BTS' oldest member, Jin,
scheduled to enlist in 2021, after successfully
postponing his military service earlier this week.