South Korea is a country that takes mandatory military service very seriously. There is no option for exemption like there is in Brazil and other countries. A person who does not obey the law loses their freedom by being sent to a penitentiary. This time is also very sad for fans as there are no exceptions made for k-pop groups or other artists who reach the age of 30.
Military service starts at the age of 20, but it becomes mandatory at 30. The service lasts up to 3 years and is a distressing time for fans, as many are at the peak of their careers and have to take a break to comply with the country’s law.
In this article, we will understand more about this subject, which artists have already served in the army, what measures the government is taking to resolve this, and whether this law means the end of the career of the current k-pop band: BTS.
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How does mandatory military service work and what is its duration?
Military service in South Korea extends to both men and women upon reaching adulthood, but it is mandatory only for males. The conscription law has existed since 1957. And the service is not only for those born in South Korea but also extends to those with dual nationality who opted for the Korean one. It also relates to people who have resided in South Korea for a long time.
The military obligation in South Korea is among the 4 most stringent in the world, behind only North Korea, Israel, and Singapore. Men have a window of 18 to 28 years of age to enlist; if they do not do so, they can be imprisoned. The way prisoners are treated there is also not very appealing! A person can spend decades without their freedom.
The situation is so serious that even if a person has some health or physical problem, they must enlist, but they do a type of non-active service as if it were a voluntary service directed towards society. In this case, the person stays in this service mode for two years.
There are some exceptions regarding enlistment for Koreans who have diabetes, as it is a disease that weakens the person, with dietary restrictions, and if they get injured, healing is quite slow, which can worsen the problem; in this case, the person can request exemption. Another exception applies to Olympic athletes who win a gold medal, as it is considered a form of service to the country.
The recruitment time will also depend on the type of service chosen. The People Online showed the duration for each of the military services:
Non-active service (social work) – 2 years
Non-active service (industrial technical) – 2 years and 10 months
Non-active service (doctors, lawyers, veterinarians and researchers) – 3 years
Navy – 1 year and 9 months
Army – 1 year and 9 months
Naval Army – 1 year and 11 months
Air Force – 2 years
Korean artists who will serve in the army soon
The hearts of fans ache during this period, although for many it may not seem like a big deal, the departure for mandatory military service of certain members of a group can cause the band to lose its strength over time.
Oh, and it is important to emphasize that in South Korea, a person’s age is counted differently. When a person is born, they are considered 1 year old, as the gestation time is taken into account, and then the age is counted normally. So they take into account the age from there. Some k-pop singers are already a few steps away from enlisting. Let’s see who they are.
1 – Jin (BTS)
Jin or Kim Seok-jin (김석진) was born on December 4, 1992; he is the oldest in the group. So considering the Korean age, he turns 30 in December, which is the limit set by the government for artists at the peak of their success to enlist. Jin is a tenor and plays guitar. He has been in the band since the beginning in 2013.
2 – Wonho (Monsta X)
Wonho or Lee Ho-seok (이호석) is already 29 years old (Korean age) and is a former member of the band Monsta X from Starship Entertainment; he joined the band in May 2015. He stayed in the group until the launch of his solo career in April 2020. He stands out for having a very beautiful face, which is why he has also dedicated himself to a modeling career since 2018 for major brands.
3 – Jay B (GOT 7)
Jay B or Lim Jae-beom (임재범) will complete his 29 Korean years in January 2022. His career began in 2012, but he became known for joining the group Got 7 formed in 2014. In addition to singing, Jay B is also an actor, with appearances in 3 dramas and several variety shows.
4 – Vernon (Seventeen)
Hansol Vernon Chwe (한솔 버논 최) is 24 Korean years old. He is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and dancer in the group Seventeen. Vernon was born in NY, United States, but moved to South Korea at the age of 5, so he has dual nationality, and when a person chooses South Korean nationality, they must enlist; otherwise, they are treated as an immigrant.
5 – Mino (Winner)
Mino is the stage name of Song Min-ho (송민호); the rapper, singer, and songwriter is 29 years old in Korean age and has been a member of the group Winner since 2015. His career began in 2011, and he is still active today. The artist won the discovery of the year award in 2016.
6 – Suga (BTS)
Suga is named Min Yoon-gi (민윤기) and turns 29 in March 2022. He has been in BTS since their debut in 2013, where he became more well-known, but 3 years prior, he was already part of a rap group.
7 – Xiumin (EXO)
Xiumin, whose name is Kim Min-seok (김민석), is 32 Korean years old and is already serving in the army. He started his career in 2012 when he joined the band EXO and stayed until 2019 when he had to leave for military service.
The BTS law
The group BTS is one of the most influential bands in South Korea. This group has contributed a lot to the hallyu phenomenon and is only growing and winning more people around the world while bringing its cultural aspects. As most of the members are around the same age, with the time for enlistment approaching, people could not help but express themselves in some way.
Despite several attempts to reach an agreement, the group BTS has not yet achieved exemption from mandatory military service; the only progress, in fact, was that the established deadline was extended. They would have until the age of 30 (Korean) to enlist instead of 28. This measure ended up extending to all South Korean artists. The Korea Music Contents Association (MCON), an association focused on the development of the K-pop industry, has not yet agreed to the exemption for artists, but it is already a topic to be evaluated.
What do you think about this law? Will they soon be able to achieve exemption or some type of alternative service?
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