Real Talk: Enlistment

from Borasaek Vision Magazine Volume 1, Issue 6

Why We Celebrate BTS In e Music Industry

Written by: Shelley & LP | Edited by : Clare | Checked by: Vera| Design by: Connie

Male citizens of the Republic of Korea, according to the Constitution and this law, ought to perform the duty of military service with sincerity, and females can volunteer for military service.

(Article 3:1, Military Service Law of the Republic of Korea; English Translation by Seungsook Moon, 2006)

A Fact of Korean Life

As di cult as it may be for international ARMYs to understand, military service is a fact of life for all able-bodied Korean men aged 18 years and over and has been since it was implemented in 1957 under the Military Service Law. According to this law, military service is a requirement for the nation’s male citizens no matter where they reside in the world, unless they are deemed “physically or socially undesirable for military service.” In the case of dual citizenship holders, they have to have revoked their Korean citizenship prior to their 18th birthday. is di ers signi cantly for women, who, under the terms of South Korea’s Constitution, are not obliged to serve. As outlined in Article 3 of the Republic of Korea’s Military Service Act, “a feminine gender may perform only active service or reserve service through volunteering.”

Under Korea’s Military Service System, there are two ways to enter into military service. e rst is through a compulsory system premised upon the ideology that all Korean citizens “are responsible for the defense of their country.” For Korean men, the conscription system begins at the age of 18; however, under the provision of Article 60 of the military law, Korean men have the ability to defer their enlistment until they are 28 years old. e second method is through voluntary enlistment.

It is believed that failure to ful ll one’s military service responsibilities can have an adverse e ect on the individual with regards to future employment opportunities and their societal reputation. In the past, this was particularly so for conscientious objectors, who were incarcerated for choosing not to enlist; a decision that made it di cult for many conscientious objectors to gain employment once their prison term was completed. Now, for the rst time since the 1930’s, Korean men who refuse to serve because of religious or moral beliefs can apply for alternative service. Despite some expected resistance, this is a signi cant development for both Military Service Law and conscientious objectors — evidence that change can occur within the system.

Which Leads Us to BTS.

Recently, the Korean government entered into discussions regarding the exemption of BTS from military service, thanks to their huge impact on Korea’s economy and culture. However, on Oct. 5, 2020, when the topic was raised in Korea’s parliament, the chairman of the democratic party said, “Let’s stay quiet on this issue, because the public feels uncomfortable about it, and it’s not what BTS members want, either.”

Later, as reported by KBS World on Oct.14, discussions regarding military exemption for BTS were met with great resistance from government o cials concerned with the perceived “lack of fairness” of such an approach. One member of the Democratic Party asked, “What did they do to be exempt from military service,” before adding that perhaps the government should just grant exemptions for everybody.

While comments such as these may be painful for ARMYs to hear, within Korea’s context, these comments come in the wake of Korea’s declining birthrate, increased aging population, and “heightened military readiness” as a result of ongoing tensions between North and South Korea. Because of this, South Korea’s Defense Ministry is promoting that all able-bodied men take up active

military duty, rather than opting to defer or being excused through exemption programs. is would see most men enlisting in their early 20s and would potentially boost falling numbers of active servicemen.

ese in-government discussions and debates are not new in South Korea’s parliamentary chambers. However, with BTS’ newly acclaimed achievements crediting them with two #1 hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, the ever-approaching countdown to eldest member Kim Seokjin’s enlistment, and BTS’ contributions to the nation’s economy, there has been a growing interest in how military service will a ect the BTS members. While the knowledge that military exemption for BTS will not be entertained may be disheartening for many fans, there is still hope in the form of a government law review. According to the Commissioner for the Military Manpower Administration Mo JongHwa, this review could result in the addition of “a delay in military service only until age 30 for those most highly recommended” by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Such a result would allow Jin to delay his enlistment for two more years.

Ready to Serve

A month later, the National Assembly’s Defense Committee approved an amendment to Korea’s current conscription law — Korea’s Military Service Act. According to Yonhap News Agency, “if the bill passes the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and plenary session, and the revision of the enforcement decree is completed, it is expected that BTS members will be able to delay their military service until age 30.” at same day, during the BE press conference, Jin con rmed that the BTS members are ready to serve when called upon to do so — as both a duty and an obligation.

With the current pandemic far from over, there is only more fog clouding the nal decision that has yet to come. Di erences of opinion have

broken out amongst ARMYs, with each cluster feeling that their option is the best one for the BTS members. Some argue that BTS have proven themselves to be of the same calibre as gold medal athletes and therefore should be exempted from any kind of service, while others argue that rather than enlisting individually according to their ages, they should all be able to enlist together and serve at the same time. Additionally, some hold the belief that BTS members should honor their duties as Korean citizens and accept their enlistment as a “rite of passage,” whilst another opinion is to let the members decide for themselves what they want to do and, as fans, respect their decisions.

ese varied opinions are indicative of the diversity that exists within the ARMY fandom, so it is not surprising at all that emotions run high whenever this topic comes to light. It is also understandable that with the continued strained relations between North and South Korea, ARMYs feel anxious at the idea of the members being somehow placed in harm’s way.

Without a doubt though, ARMY is an incredibly strong fanbase — we are a family. BTS’ enlistment, when it happens, may create an imbalance in the ARMY fanbase, however the core of BTS x ARMY universe will remain steady and unharmed by this. By no means will it dim the ame of their fans’ love for them. Now that Big Hit has become this proli c “content powerhouse,” ARMYs can rest assured that BTS’ light will continue to shine for a long time into the future.

South Korea (Republic of Korea) and North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) have been at war with each other since 1950.

BTS’ leader, RM, wrote a poem in 5th grade titled “Korean Peninsula Tiger and Unification.” He dreamed of the day “when the two colors on the flag unite and become purple.”

Mandatory conscription has existed in South Korea since 1957

Military Service Law requires all Korean men between the ages of 18 and 28 to serve in the military, unless they are deemed “physically or socially undesirable.” Active service ranges from 18 to 21 months. Non-active service ranges from 21 months to 3 years.

REAL TALK: REAL TALK:

REAL FACTS REAL FACTS

Military exemption is available for: *Olympic medal winners *Asian Games gold medal winners *Performers; violinists, pianists, ballet dancers, and opera singers *Those deemed not to be “able-bodied” *Eligible doctoral students