South Korea’s Mandatory Military Service Exempts K-Pop Stars

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What has happened?

South Korea’s parliament amended a law on Tuesday that would allow globally recognised K-pop artistes to postpone their mandatory military service to age 30.
This bill was specifically created to provide exceptions for K-pop superstars who contribute to South Korea’s economy and promote its culture.
In focus with regard to this bill was BTS, that has become one of the most recognized K-pop groups in the world.

South Korea’s laws require all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 to 28 to enroll in compulsory military service.
South Korea’s constitution, implemented in July 1948 states in Article 39: “All citizens shall have the duty of national defense under the conditions as prescribed by Act.”
South Korea’s Military Service Act of 1949, implemented in 1957, states that compulsory military service is required for men when they turn 19 years old.
Enlistment for military service starts at 18 years in the country.
According to the Military Service Act, enlistment means that “a person under obligation to serve in the military enters the military unit by conscription, call-up or application”.
Military service is not compulsory for women in South Korea but they may enroll for service if they wish to.

Military service in South Korea lasts for approximately 18 months, making it among the longest in the world,
But the length depends on the branch of military where the service is being undertaken.
The service is also divided between those who serve as active duty soldiers and those who serve as non-active duty personnel.
In the South Korean Army and Marine Corps, active duty soldiers serve for 1 year and 6 months in the Army or Marine Corps.
In the Navy, they serve for 1 year and 8 months, while in the Air Force, they serve for 1 year and 9 months.
Non-active duty personnel serve in various branches of the government for 1 year and 9 months as a ‘public service worker’.

Exemption from military service was first introduced by South Korea’s President Park Chung-hee in 1973 for athletes in the run-up to the 1976 Summer Olympics,
In an attempt to secure a better performance and more medals for the country.
More recently, South Korea’s national football was promised exemptions if they won the FIFA World Cup in 2002.
Presently, medal-winners in the Olympic Games and Asian Games are allowed exemptions, where they only engage in four weeks of basic military training.
In the fields of arts and culture, exemptions have also been granted to South Korean violinists, pianists, and ballet performers, actors and directors.

This list of exemptions has not previously included K-pop stars,
Leading to many fans taking to social media to ask why these performers, who have been instrumental in promoting South Korea, its culture and music, have been left out.
Hence the new bill to exempt K-pop stars.

While this bill is not specifically for BTS, there is little doubt that the group’s success and recognition have contributed to its implementation.
While Korean pop music, television dramas, films and other cultural products have been popular around theworld since the 1990s,
The popularity has grown exponentially over the past 6-7 years, resulting in K-pop and Koreans dramasbecoming globally mainstream.
This bill will ensure that entertainers recommended by South Korea’s culture ministry will be allowed to defer military service to age 30.
The bill comes at a time when Jin, 27, the oldest member of BTS, is nearing enlistment, with the other six members scheduled to follow.

Q) Which among the following countries does not have compulsory military service?