[2022 National Audit] Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop "Respect Military Service Act Revision... BTS Military Service Desirable"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Lee Jong-seop, Minister of National Defense, stated regarding the military service issue of the group Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS), "From the perspective of fairness and equity in fulfilling military duties, I believe it is desirable for BTS to serve in the military."

Minister Lee made this remark on the 4th during the National Assembly National Defense Committee's audit in response to a question from Yoon Hu-deok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asking, "Do you agree with the revised bill that grants military service exceptions to BTS?"

On that day, Representative Yoon said, "In a public opinion survey conducted by the National Defense Committee, favorability toward BTS's military exemption has increased," and inquired about Minister Lee's views on the revised bill. Although Minister Lee expressed a negative opinion about granting military service exceptions to BTS, he responded, "If the Military Service Act is amended by the National Assembly, I will respect the outcome."

Among BTS members, the oldest, Jin (30, real name Kim Seok-jin), currently has his military service deferred until the end of the year and will be subject to enlistment notification at the beginning of the new year.

Accordingly, in September, the National Assembly proposed an amendment to the Military Service Act allowing alternative military service for popular culture artists such as the group Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS). According to the amendment, popular culture artists who have received cultural medals, cultural decorations, sports medals, or sports decorations will be added to the category of arts and sports personnel.

The current Military Service Act stipulates that individuals with special skills in the arts and sports fields, as determined by Presidential Decree and recommended by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, can be incorporated as arts and sports personnel. Those with special skills in arts and sports who have contributed to cultural development and national prestige by winning second place in international arts competitions or first place in domestic arts competitions serve 34 months as arts and sports personnel instead of military service.

Under the current law, popular culture artists such as BTS cannot be incorporated as arts and sports personnel because the Enforcement Decree of the Military Service Act does not define popular culture as a special skill in the arts and sports fields. However, according to the amended Military Service Act, BTS, who received the Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit in 2018 for their contribution to the spread of Hallyu and the Korean language, meet the additional criteria for arts and sports personnel.