"BTS aren't a member of the national team"

Pianist Cho Seong Jin also isn't a member of the national team. He is however, one of the most globally acclaimed painists."

"BTS aren't amateurs."

Soccer player Son Heung Min also isn't an amateur. He is among the "Top 10" in the English premier league.

"BTS makes their own money"

If that's the case, baseball player Ryu Hyunjin also makes his own money. The player is the 2nd Korean to make the most money in the Toronto Blue Jays.

"BTS aren't artists"

Go player Lee Chang Ho also isn't an artist. He is however, the Korean player to win a number of Go tournaments.(Lee Chang Ho was eventually accepted onto the list of the art category, making him legible for military exemption.)

The sports and art section of the Military Service Obligations was put into effect in 1973. The opportunity was given towards those who promote the country in the two divisions.

The policy has been running for a total of fifty years now. In fact, an appeal was made for soccer player Hong Myung Bo in 2002.

Promotion of the country and cultural development. These are the key words used in the policy.

However, this remains unclear for BTS, the biggest contributors to the spread of Korean culture. Last year, the revision of the Military Service Act in the National Assembly was in talks (The placement of popular culture in the policy) but hasn't made any progress since.

"It isn't fair. If people can be exempted from placing #1 on the billboards, then wht about the Oricon charts?" (Ministry of Defense A)

"Tens of Trillions of Economic Effects? If that's the case, the children in the Samsung family also needs to be exempted." (Member B of the National Assembly)

We'd like to ask member A of the Ministry of Defense. Is the current state of the arts division in the policy, fair?

The Ministry of National Defense had looked towards "Unesco" for the criteria. For example, military exemption is acknowledged for at least silver medalists in one of the 37 international competitions (recognized by UNESCO). Five of domestic competitions are also added onto the list.

The problem is that the criteria will always point to loopholes.

According to statistics released in 2018, a total of 280 people had been recognized for military exemption. There were a total of 142 contestants in international competitions, to which 138 people were acknowledged as legible.

In fact, the proportion of domestic competitions was superior. The winners of the Dong-A Gugak Competition (45), Jeonju Daesa Training Competition (30), Dong-A Dance Competition (20), National Rookie of the Year Dance Competition (20), and Onnara Gugak Competition (17), accounted for half of the artistic division.

Member B of the Military of Defense mentions BTS's financial stability. 현 This is because the member had read about the group's financial income.

(The Hyundai Economic Research Institute estimated the economic inducement effect of Olympic gold medals at 296 billion won)

Member B of the Ministry of Defense mentions Korea's biggest electronic corporation in terms of income. The member specifically voices that the spread of Samsung's global prominence is the doing of the CEO and their offsprings, and not the employees. That was said in the year of 2021.

This isn't intended to push for the addition of popular culture to the arts division. The article also isn't meant for the benefit of BTS. What we are implying, is the need for fairness in the policy.

This is why Dispatch had prepared a survey based on the knowledge of military exemption The survey had asked questions on the perspective of Korean citizens, in a fair manner. The success rate is 95% to 3%.

91% of the people answered that promoting the country is important. 95% had answered that it is significant in cultural development. People have noted the impact on promoting the country through Kpop at 98%, and sports with 90%. BTS were chosen as the #1 contributors with (64%) 

89% of respondents agree on the need to grant benefits to those who contribute to national prestige and cultural development. 70% had agreed to a need in a reform of the policy. The majority of the people spoke out on the policy's failure to adapt to generational changes.

78% had expressed the need to add popular culture onto the list. According to 59% of the respondents, they claim that a new criteria should be made for those who make it onto international award shows. An order of cultural merits was voted with (25%).

We had also met up with an entertainment agency. We had asked them on the the making of their album. They had answered, "A trainee of ours is preparing for the Jeonju Daesa Habitual Play contest. They had expressed wishes to carry on with their careers without the disturbance of military service."

Some have voiced concerns that there will be people who will use these to their advantage. However, it's already long been established that individuals who succeed in the said competitions, are exempted from their mandatory military service. We feel its best to not pick at the rules, but look for improvement. If the policy still stands its grounds that the promotion of one's country and cultural development are the key aspects.

[여론조사①] "BTS, 국위선양 1위지만"…방탄소년단, 병역특례의 현실 (종합)

[여론조사②] "78%, 예술요원 편입 찬성"…대중 예술인, 대체복무 여론은?

[여론조사③] "예술요원 개선, 필요할까요?"…병역특례에 관한 인식조사 (PPT)

[여론조사④] "BTS는 국가대표가 아니다?"…예술요원 반대에 대한 반대 (칼럼)

<Translated by=Justina Kim(Dispatch)>