'Amendment to Military Service Act' Passed in National Assembly Plenary Session
BTS and Other Hallyu Stars Can Postpone Enlistment Until Age 30
The group BTS posed at the press conference for their new album held on the morning of the 20th of last month at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] On the 1st, Shin Wonsik and Kim Ung, members of the People Power Party, cast opposing votes against the amendment to the Military Service Act that paved the way for the group Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS) to postpone their military enlistment during the National Assembly plenary session. The amendment to the Military Service Act passed the plenary session that day with 253 votes in favor, 2 against, and 13 abstentions out of 268 members present.
Shin, a former Army Lieutenant General, explained in a phone interview with Yonhap News on the same day the reason for his opposing vote, saying, "Our society needs noblesse oblige," and "Since BTS enjoys tremendous wealth and honor, they should serve in the front-line military service."
Shin argued, "Military service is the most important and difficult duty among the four major obligations of citizens," and added, "Flexibility in military service can be shown to those in difficult circumstances, but exempting military service for those who are successful and receive attention is opposed."
He continued, "I positively evaluate BTS for promoting national prestige," but emphasized, "Even if only they are allowed to postpone military conscription or enlistment, it could send a bad signal to our society."
Kim Ung, a member of the same party who also cast a dissenting vote along with Shin, criticized the content of the law allowing military service postponement for outstanding individuals in the field of popular culture and arts, saying, "If a YouTuber with 30 million subscribers sparks the Korean Wave, can this person be considered part of the popular culture and arts field?" and pointed out, "The clarity of the law is lacking."
Kim, a former prosecutor, added, "It is not that BTS's tremendous contributions are ignored by calling them popular culture and arts, but once such a law is made, controversies will inevitably arise in each case later."
Meanwhile, the National Assembly passed the amendment to the Military Service Act during the plenary session that day, including outstanding individuals in the field of popular culture and arts among those eligible to postpone military conscription or enlistment.
According to the amendment, the government plans to establish a presidential decree allowing popular culture and arts figures who have received cultural or service medals and are recommended by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to postpone enlistment until the age of 30.
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