In Yohan: "BTS Should Be Exempted from Military Service"... Is It Possible for Members Who Have Enlisted?

Article 33, Paragraph 7 of the Current Military Service Act
Includes 'Active Duty Exemption Clause'

Inyohan, Chairman of the People Power Party Innovation Committee, adjusts his necktie during the Innovation Committee plenary meeting with the people held at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 9th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Inyohan, the Innovation Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, recently sparked interest by stating that the group BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan) should be exempted from military service, raising questions about whether exemptions are possible for members who have already enlisted.

On the 13th, In appeared on JTBC's 'Genreman Yeouido' and said, "Why send BTS to the military? If you win a medal, you don't have to go to the military," adding, "BTS should be exempted from military service."

BTS members Jin, J-Hope, and Suga are currently fulfilling their military duties, with Jin enlisting in December last year, followed by J-Hope and Suga. Jin and J-Hope are serving as instructors at the Army Recruit Training Center, while Suga is working as a social service agent.

In fact, the current Military Service Act stipulates that even those "currently serving active duty" can be transferred to artistic or athletic service. Article 33, Paragraph 7 of the Military Service Act states, "The Military Manpower Administration may transfer a person who falls under any of the following categories and possesses special skills in the arts or sports fields as determined by Presidential Decree, and who is recommended by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to artistic or athletic service."

Notably, the law includes not only "those subject to active duty enlistment" but also "those currently serving active duty." This means that even those who have enlisted can be exempted depending on government policy.

There are precedents. Among athletes, there have been cases where individuals won gold medals at events such as the Asian Games while serving in the military and were discharged early. Soccer player Hwang In-beom was discharged early after about nine months of service following a gold medal win in men's soccer at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games. Similarly, Cho Young-wook returned to civilian life 264 days after enlistment by winning the men's soccer championship at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.

In particular, in the music industry, there have been ongoing criticisms that popular artists such as singers are not included in the category eligible for transfer to artistic or athletic service, which is seen as unfair.