WILL BTS ENLISTMENT DATE POSTPONE?

We all know that South Korea still mandate their healthy man to enlist, with the limit age of around 30. As many of BTS member, especially the oldest member JIN is nearing the expiring date to enlist, many fans begin to question when exactly BTS will enlist.  As Jin will be turning 30 next year, BTS will now have to apply for the postponement, or else they might have to join military services.

 BTS' Jin said in a press conference held after the release of their album “BE” last year that military service is a natural duty of a young Korean man and he is ready to respond to the country's call to serve the nation. So all of BTS members said that it's a honor to serve and won't try to avoid it. But recently, attention is being gathered on whether BTS will be the first ones who will be able to postpone their mandatory military enlistment once the military law revision is implemented. The name is named as "BTS  Military Service Act" at least for now, is a law for any pop culture artists to delay military service. the National Assembly's standing committee has discussed about this law.  There is no disagreement between the ruling and opposition parties; therefore, they finally came to a resolution on how to select the exceptional pop culture candidates. Artists who have received a National Certificate of Merit can be considered for the delay in enlistment.

Although Big Hit Music said they have nothing to comment on the BTS members’ military conscription issue. The National Assembly revised of the Military Service Act last year to allow some k-pop celebrities and artists to postpone their compulsory conscription until they turn 30. Before the revision, all able-bodied men in South Korea were required to enlist for about a 20-month-long military service until the age of 28.  The Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Hwang Hee, said on a YTN broadcast that he will definitely recommend BTS if they were to submit an application for the postponement. Minster Hwang said, "Although BTS has yet to submit an application for a recommendation for the postponement, I will definitely write a recommendation for them."

No one can argue that BTS is the money maker of HYBE entertainment, who rise to the top of South Korea Entertainment industry. This new law is a great news for kpop boygroup fans. But some in the cultural community point out that BTS is the only one who can benefit from the revised law, so it is necessary to expand the scope of application. In response, Minister Hwang replied, "We will consider the fairness, equity, and opinions of the Ministry of National Defense."

The said law, is a postponement system for pop culture artists, which took effect on the day, means that if the individuals are recognized to have made a significant contribution to the promotion of national prestige as pop culture artists, they can postpone the enlistment until they are 30 years old.

At that time, the country’s parliament also mentioned that “a pop culture artiste who was recommended by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to have greatly enhanced the image of Korea both within the nation and throughout the world would be allowed to delay the military service until the age of 30.

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