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BTS waves to a crowd during a performance. (courtesy Bighit Music)

Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup of South Korea recently said there might be a way for members of K-pop juggernaut BTS to both complete their military service and continue to perform.

“If [BTS] joins the military, there would be a way to give them a chance to practice and perform together if there are scheduled concerts abroad,” the defense minister said during a session of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee Monday.

Lee Jong-sup underscored the need to find a solution that “will not infringe on principles such as fairness, equity and reduction of military service resources.”

The defense minister’s comments seem to disagree with the argument that public entertainers — who are currently not subject to alternative military service — be included in special military exemption programs.

The Military Manpower Administration (MMA) currently has an alternative military service system in place that allows talented individuals in the arts and sports fields who have contributed to the promotion of national prestige and cultural growth to serve 34 months as “arts and sports personnel” instead of undergoing traditional military service.

Lee said that, although some may see BTS enlisting as unnecessary, “many people think highly of military service and [BTS completing their service] could actually have a positive impact on their popularity.”

The MMA also expressed its opposition to adding pop culture artists to the list of those exempt.

Lee Ki-sik, head of the MMA, said that it won’t only be BTS who will need an exemption, but that the entire national system would need to be overhauled to allow for exemptions for similar groups that will emerge in the future.

In response to People Power Party lawmaker Sung Il-jong’s remarks in favor of alternative service for artists, Lee Ki-sik responded by saying, “We are carefully considering including pop culture artists for [special military service programs] because it can break the entire framework of the overall military service exemption system.”

By Kwon Hyuk-chul, staff reporter

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