BTS Members' Military Duty Debated by South Korea: Here's What We Know

South Korean officials have been debating whether to grant the members of BTS exceptions to the mandatory military duty required of them for several years now, and time is running out.

By law, South Korea mandates that all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 28 serve in the military for 18-21 months as the country faces continuing heightened tensions with North Korea.

Exemptions are already made for classical musicians, athletes, and ballet or other dancers who are considered to have enhanced national prestige, but the debate is now being taken to K-pop idols, as some officials have argued that they too have elevated South Korea's international image and deserve to be exempt.

Here's What We Know

Former South Korean culture minister Hwang Hee said in May that it "would be a national loss" to make the members of BTS service in the army, adding that it would be a "cultural loss for mankind" if they had to "suspend their activities due to the fulfillment of their military service obligations when their achievements in promoting national prestige and their skills are at their peak."

BTS has already been granted an exception to delay their military service—in 2020, parliament passed a law, known as the BTS Law—allowing the biggest K-pop stars to delay their obligatory duty until they turned 30.

But while the news was a relief in 2020, it is once again time for decisions to be made, as BTS' oldest member, Jin—whose full name is Kim Seok-jin—faces enlistment in December when he turns 30.

On Wednesday, South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup announced that his ministry was going to be looking into BTS's economic impact, the need for military service and conduct research on the feasibility of a survey to gain an understanding of the overall national interest in order to start making decisions, according to the Associated Press.

Worldwide Impression

A public interest survey in April showed that around 60 percent of the participants were in favor of giving BTS members a military exemption.

BTS has made an impression on the world in recent years, in 2020 becoming the first Asian group since 1963 to top Billboard's Hot 100 chart with their English-language single "Dynamite."

The group has also been proactive in its activism, visiting the White House in May to discuss anti-Asian hate crimes with President Joe Biden. They were also named ambassadors for the World Expo 2030 event and are preparing to hold a free concert in Busan, South Korea in October to help the city's bid to host.

Their work with the World Expo, argued Busan's mayor Park Heong-joon, could replace their military service—as athletes and others granted exemptions are already required to perform 544 hours of volunteer work.

"Its members will be assigned with national duties as heavy as military service, and will serve the nation in their unique capacity," Park stated in August.

Still, the debate continues as many South Koreans argue that exempting the members of BTS is unfair to all the other men their age who are required to serve.

Newsweek reached out to a representative for BTS for comment.