K-pop superstar BTS members’ military services have become a national issue because its oldest member Jin has to serve the country soon under the current law. Photo courtesy of Big Hit Entertainment

Korea set to delay military conscripts of BTS members

The South Korean government is expected to allow BTS members to delay their military scripts as a mounting number of the country's lawmakers are urging the measures.

Mo Jong-hwa, the chief of the Military Manpower Administration, came up with the possibility during a parliamentary session this week.

“We are now discussing with the related ministers over allowing pop artists to delay their mandatory military service, although such a measure would need the consensus of people,” Mo said.

All healthy male Koreans between 18 and 28 should serve in the military, which means that all BTS members should serve their country at some point.

In the case of its oldest member Jin, he has to enlist by the end of this year. BTS management agency Big Hit Entertainment expected that the imminent deadline might be postponed to next year thanks to his postgraduate study, though.

Jin was born in 1992.

BTS is the world’s biggest boy band. The seven-member idol group became the first Korean act to top Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart with its latest song “Dynamite” in August.

The Seoul administration said that the exploit’s economic effect would be bigger than $1.4 billion.

Against this backdrop, more and more lawmakers asked for proactive steps to let the septet play without losing older members soon.

Rep. Jeon Yong-gi from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea put forth a revision in September to enable artists recommended by the government to delay their military service.

Rep. Noh Woong-rae of the same party even noted in a recent meeting that the military service exemption of the K-pop sensation should be discussed seriously.

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