[SBS Star] Defense Minister Shares the Final Decision on BTS' Military Exemption

South Korea's Ministry of National Defense has maintained that it would be difficult to expand the exemption system for the members of K-pop boy group BTS.

During a parliamentary hearing held on September 20, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said that due to "aspects of fairness on fulfilling mandatory military service, it is difficult to extend the exemption system to BTS."
Under the current Military Service Act, prominent figures in arts and sports can complete their mandatory military duty through an alternative service―while there are no provisions for pop culture artists.

Lee Ki-sik, commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration (MMA), also emphasized the need to take the principle of "fairness" into account in handling socially controversial issues like military exemption.

During his interview with Yonhap News Agency, Lee said, "Military service is a constitutional duty (in South Korea) that should be applied to all people with fairness and equality. That is an unchangeable principle."

He added, "The achievements of BTS are astonishing, but if we are to connect the compensations with their military duty, we need to reach a social consensus based on fairness so that the young people who join the military won't feel a sense of discrimination and frustration."
With no exemption given to the seven members, BTS' oldest member JIN is expected to enlist in the military next year.

(Credit= BIGHIT MUSIC)

(SBS Star)