Bulletproof Boy Scouts. Photo｜Big Hit MusicThe Ministry of National Defense has put a wedge in the position of ‘impossible’ for the special military service of the group BTS. Deputy Minister of Military Manpower and the Director of the Military Manpower Administration are in an atmosphere of unanimously emphasizing the faithful fulfillment of BTS’ military service obligations.
Deputy Defense Minister Shin Beom-cheol on the 22nd MBC radio ‘Focus on Kim Jong-bae’s Eyes’ responded to the argument of some that pop culture artists such as BTS should also allow ‘alternative service’, saying, “In terms of the fairness of the fulfillment of military service obligation, special military service, in precise terms, ‘ The Ministry of National Defense’s consistent position is that it is difficult to expand the replacement service for supplementary service,” he said.
In response to the host’s question, “Then why did you do the poll?”, Vice Minister Shin said, “It was conducted at the National Assembly (Defense Committee) level (not the Ministry of National Defense). I don’t have any position on what I’m going to do,” he emphasized.
Vice Minister Shin also mentioned the results of the opinion poll and said, “(BTS military service exception) is 40-60% in favor and 30-50% against it, so it is difficult to see the majority of the people in favor.” He added that the majority did not support it.
Prior to the new vice minister, Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop reaffirmed his previous position that “it is difficult to expand the alternative service system” regarding the issue of special military service for BTS at the 4th plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 20th.
When Minister Min Hong-cheol, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asked, “The issue of BTS’ military service is now being decided through a poll. Can you decide whether to go to the military or not by a poll?” “No. Regarding the BTS military service issue, he replied, “It is difficult to expand the alternative service system in terms of the fairness of fulfilling military service obligations.”
In an interview with Yonhap News on the 19th, Military Manpower Administration Commissioner Lee Ki-sik also said, “As the controversy over the pros and cons of BTS’ military service has expanded due to the issue of military service, I think it is necessary to quickly review the supplementary service system as a whole and what should be reduced (special exceptions). is currently being reduced, but it is not right to keep adding other things to expand it.”
Commissioner Lee said, “If pop art is also included in the supplementary service system, discrimination, separation, and frustration may increase for young people in active duty service.” All. He continued, “The achievements of BTS are obviously great, but social consensus is needed in terms of fairness for the compensation to be linked to the fulfillment of military service obligations.”
In the meantime, the Ministry of National Defense and the Military Manpower Administration have taken a negative stance on the issue of special military service for BTS. However, after Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon suggested to the president a special military service exemption for BTS, who was appointed as a publicity ambassador to host the 2030 Busan World Expo, he said, ‘I will listen to public opinion’.
At the National Assembly Defense Committee plenary meeting on the 31st of last month, Minister Lee said, “We will make a decision on the BTS (military service) issue carefully, synthesizing the opinions of several lawmakers and considering the national interest from various dimensions, but we will make a decision as soon as possible.” ‘ was mentioned.
Since then, opinion polls related to BTS’ special military service have been conducted at various research institutes, but there was no overwhelming support for them, and there was a lot of tension. And as the Ministry of National Defense reiterated its position that it would be difficult to expand the alternative service system at the National Assembly questioning session on the same day, the issue of BTS’ military service was virtually concluded as ‘no special case’.
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