Culture minister says public consensus is key to decision on BTS's military service

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Culture minister says public consensus is key to decision on BTS's military service

Published: 04 Jul. 2022, 18:33 Updated: 21 Jul. 2022, 13:14

Boy band BTS [BIGHIT MUSIC]

Culture Minister Park Bo-gyoon said “public consensus is important” regarding BTS’s military service, during a press conference on Monday.

“We are considering three factors: the fact that military service is a sacred duty, the fact that BTS promoted K-culture to the world, and the matter of equity between foundational arts and popular arts,” he said during Monday’s conference. “But most of all, the public consensus is important. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is relaying relevant details to the Military Manpower Administration and National Assembly.”

In Korea, all able-bodied young men are required to serve around two years in the military.

Jin, the oldest member of BTS who was born in 1992, is due to enlist before the end of this year.

Under the current military conscription law, prominent figures in arts and sports fields such as Olympic and Asian Games medalists and globally recognized, award-wining classical musicians are legally exempted from their military duties. However, the current law does not include pop culture figures.

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]