Culture Minister says BTS should be exempt from military service

Boy band BTS at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on April 4 [BIG HIT MUSIC]

Culture Minister Hwang Hee insisted Wednesday that globally recognized pop culture artists, like BTS, be allowed to substitute their mandatory military service with other alternative programs. His remarks, which come just six days before the new government takes office, added fuel to the already heated debate of whether BTS should be given military exemptions.

"It's time to create a system for incorporating popular culture art figures as art personnel," Hwang said during a press briefing in Seoul.

He referred to the program that allows global award-winning athletes and classical musicians to do alternative services in their respective fields instead of serving in active military duty, in recognition of their role in promoting their country's image abroad.

In Korea, all able-bodied men are required to serve in the military for about two years. Jin, the oldest member of the boy band, faces enlistment by December.

"The system has been operated meaningfully to give those who have enhanced the national status based on their excellent skills more chances to contribute to the country, and there is no reason that the popular art-culture field should be excluded from this."

He directly mentioned BTS, saying, "I thought somebody should be the voice of reason at a time when there are conflicting pros and cons ahead of the enlistment of some of the BTS members."

Forcing globally recognized pop culture artists to halt their careers at their peak in order to serve in the military would cause a great loss not only to the country but also to the entire world, the minister reasoned.

He then asked parliament to approve a relevant bill as early as possible.

The bill that would grant male pop artists other alternative options has been pending at the National Assembly amid strong opposition from young men who have fulfilled or will soon begin their military service.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE, YONHAP [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]