South Korea might carry out a general public survey to aid figure out no matter if to grant exemptions to mandatory army service to associates of the K-pop boyband BTS, officials reported Wednesday.
The issue of active army support for the band’s seven customers has been a hot-button subject in South Korea for the reason that its oldest member, Jin, faces enlistment in December, when he turns 30.
Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup informed lawmakers that he requested officers to carry out a survey speedily. He explained his ministry will also appear into several other components these kinds of as BTS’s economic impact, the value of military provider and over-all national curiosity.
Soon after his feedback designed a stir, his ministry clarified in a statement that Lee purchased officers to take a look at irrespective of whether this sort of a study is required, instead than start it straight away.
It stated officials were being asked to analyze facts like which company would be accountable for a study, how extended would it choose and who exactly would be surveyed. The statement stated if the study is carried out, it will be performed by a 3rd business, not by the ministry or linked authorities, to ensure fairness.
The ministry reported the results would be only a single of the quite a few factors figuring out BTS members’ military standing.
By law, all in a position-bodied adult men in South Korea need to serve 18-21 months in the armed forces below a conscription procedure established to deal with threats from rival North Korea. But the nation gives exemption to athletes, classical and regular musicians, and ballet and other dancers who get best sites in specific competitions simply because they are considered to have improved national status.
People exempted are launched from the army soon after taking a few weeks of standard instruction. But they are essential to complete 544 hrs of volunteer work and provide in their respective specialist fields for 34 months.
Some politicians and many others have named for increasing the scope of exemptions to include K-pop stars this sort of as BTS for the reason that they have elevated South Korea’s intercontinental impression considerably as effectively.
A private study previously this year showed about 60% of respondents supported army exemption for BTS members. But a different personal survey in 2020 confirmed 46% backed exemptions although 48% opposed them.
