Will BTS Be In Military Service? This Is The Answer Of South Korea's Minister Of Culture, Sports And Tourism

JAKARTA - South Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) Park Bo Kyun said that the issue of the military service of the K-pop idol group BTS will be decided in December this year. On Wednesday, October 5, Park Bo Kyun attended the National Assembly parliamentary inspection of the administration of the BTS military service.

During the parliamentary audit, member of the People's Power Party Lee Yong Ho asked Minister Park to actively review the BTS military service issues.

"The member signing of Jin will be completed in December, but MCST will settle our stance as soon as possible before that," said Park Bo Kyun as quoted by Soompi, Wednesday, October 5.

Furthermore, Park Bo Kyun said MCST reviewed the matter comprehensively by looking at various aspects including points that national defense is a sacred duty, military service is a symbol of justice.

Meanwhile, BTS has also made Korea known as the pioneer of K-pop culture and has had a huge economic impact.

According to Park Bo Kyun, there are issues of equality between popular artists including BTS, and those struggling in other pure arts fields.

"This will affect the group when one BTS member joins the army, there is an analysis of public opinion and the opinion of men in their 20s, and so on," said Park Bo Kyun.

Jin, whose real name is Kim Seok Jin, is the oldest member of BTS who was born in 1992. Jin is currently 29 years old and must enlist in the military according to the amendments to the 2020 Military Service Act.

If the amendment to the Military Service Act currently pending in the National Assembly is passed, then BTS members will be exempt from military service obligations.

However, if this special exemption does not apply, Jin will have to enlist in the military early next year. After that, the remaining BTS members must also register.