Previously, The so-called "BTS Military Service Act," was approved by the National Assembly's National Defense Committee on November 20th, now the act has been passed by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
On November 30th, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee passed the 'Special Korean Wave Military Service Act,' which is a revision to the Military Service Act that allows individuals with exceptional and outstanding contributions to postpone their military enlistment until the age of 30. Individuals in the field of pop culture and arts who have greatly contributed to enhancing national status and dignity will be able to delay their military enlistment.
As mentioned before, the individuals must be recommended by the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism among the recipients of the Order of Culture Merit. Therefore, if BTS and other prominent pop culture artists who have received the merit are to be recommended by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, they will be able to postpone their military service.
The revision bill will be submitted to the plenary session of the National Assembly slated for April 3rd, 2021. If the enforcement ordinance is revised by the presidential decree, the military service law will be finally revised.
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Changing the laws for ONE group is a slap in the face to all the other groups who paved the way for younger groups, not to mention leaves open for inequalities towards equally talented (but perhaps not as globally present/recognized) idols. Its not fair and reeks of favoritism, cause at least with the Olympic exemption, the ability can be measured. Pop music is subjective and now the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism gets to play favorites on who must serve, when and how? No! It's wrong! If BTS is so talented and great then they should have NO PROBLEM doing what Super Junior, SHINee, Shinwa, and loads of other kpop bands had to do while individual members served--solos, hiatuses and sub-units. Instead they're trying to create a law that will damage the kpop fandoms even more with fans bickering about whose oppars contributed enough globally to be recognized and granted an extension (when the reality is the Korean government will probably just grant extensions to whosoever's companies pay the most to keep their groups together. Either do away with the military service requirement for idols all together or leave it as it is! No favorites games!
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