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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider Ministry of National Defense to decide soon on BTS' military service issue

Ministry of National Defense to decide soon on BTS' military service issue

Published Aug 31, 2022 11:33 pm

Korea’s Ministry of National Defense will make a decision soon regarding the issue of military service for the members of K-pop group BTS.

Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup attended on Aug. 31 a plenary meeting of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee where he was asked about BTS’ military service.

BTS (Big Hit Music)

He said he ordered his staff to conduct a public opinion survey on whether BTS should be given military service exemption.

"We will make a careful decision on the BTS issue by synthesizing opinions from various lawmakers and considering national interests on various levels, but we will make a decision as soon as possible," the defense minister said.

"We will make a careful decision on the BTS issue by synthesizing opinions from various lawmakers and considering national interests on various levels, but we will make a decision as soon as possible."

After the plenary session, the Ministry of National Defense issued clarification and said, “Minister Lee’s remarks about ‘directing public opinion polls’ are not meant to promptly conduct an opinion poll, but rather to review its necessity and relevant details.”

“If a public opinion poll is conducted, it will be conducted by a third party, not the Ministry of National Defense, to ensure fairness. The survey results will be used as a reference for policy making,” it said.

There is a pending bill in the National Assembly to grant military service exemption to BTS but lawmakers have not acted on it.

Jin, the oldest member of BTS, has until the end of the year to postpone his military service. If no new law is passed, he needs to enlist in the military. Through a new law, all BTS members were able to postpone their military service until age 30.

Minister Lee’s latest opinion is different from his stance last Aug. 1 when he told the National Defense Committee, “(The BTS members) should come to the military, and I believe there will be a way for us to give them the opportunity to practice as well as allow them to leave the country and perform anytime if they have overseas concerts scheduled,” the Korea Herald reported then.

Minister Lee added, “Many people do think highly of military service itself, and I think (BTS members enlisting) can actually help them with their popularity.”

During the conference call to report the financial results of HYBE for the second quarter of the year last Aug. 3, HYBE CFO Lee Kyung-Jun commented on the future activities and military service of BTS.

“We are well aware that investors are interested in this military service issues but as you may know, nothing has been decided yet with respect to the timeline and format of military service obligation,” he said.

He added, “As we mentioned, the BTS members will pursue their solo and group careers together and some BTS members are planning to release their albums going forward. And for the team, there is one certain plan or schedule is to hold a global concert in Busan in October,” he said.

The CFO said, “In addition to these specific plans, there is nothing much we can share at this point in time. But once decisions are made regarding military service obligations and other plans, we will share more details about the BTS members’ activities for solo and group projects.”

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