RM, Jin, V, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin and Jungkook may indeed make up one of the most successful groups in South Korean history and the first Korean group to break into the US market, but that doesn't save them from having to perform military service.
Speaking to lawmakers, Military Manpower Administration Commissioner Lee Ki Sik said it was "desirable" for K-pop group members to meet the requirement that all able-bodied men complete 18-21 months of military service.
The fate of the seven members of the group is a hot topic in South Korea, where public opinion is divided. South Korea requires all physically and mentally fit men aged 18 to 28 to serve in the military for at least 18 months to protect the country from threats from North Korea, which recently resumed missile testing ballistic. Under current law, only Olympic Games winners and globally acclaimed classical musicians are exempt or allowed to perform alternative public service.
But the exceptions have provoked serious debates. In a recent poll, 61% of respondents supported exemptions for names such as BTS, while in another, around 54% said BTS members should serve in the military.
BTS is worth more than $3.54 billion a year to South Korea's economy, according to a 2018 report by the Hyundai Research Institute — a figure equal to the contribution made by 26 medium-sized companies. The institute said BTS is the reason why one in 13 tourists visit South Korea.
But all this does not matter when it comes to the army. The law is the law.
The company that manages BTS has previously said that the group's members will perform their service without a problem. "The company believes that military service is a duty," said Big Hit Entertainment founder Bang Si-hyuk.
