BTS Urge the Ministry of Defense to Take Action: Military Exemption Standards Under Review

 

Just like in many other countries, all able-bodied male citizens in South Korea are required to complete mandatory military service. However, there is a special system known as the "Alternative or Exemption Program for Outstanding Artists and Athletes."

Under this policy, individuals who achieve exceptional accomplishments in the fields of arts or sports may be exempted from active-duty service and instead complete an alternative form of service—usually consisting of a few weeks of basic training followed by approximately two years of work in their area of expertise.

In the case of music and the arts, artists who win first place in government-recognized international competitions in music, fine arts, dance, or theater may be eligible for military exemption. However, the unequal criteria determining which competitions are included in the exemption list have become increasingly controversial—especially after BTS completed their mandatory service.

Before the seven K-pop megastars enlisted, the question of whether BTS should be exempted had sparked heated debate within both the government and the public for years.

There were two sides to the argument: one asserted that BTS deserved exemption due to their enormous contributions, unparalleled global impact, and unprecedented international awards and achievements. The other side maintained that no exceptions should be made, as pop music does not fall under the “classical arts” category recognized by law, and the awards BTS had won were not included in the official exemption list.

Despite the controversy, BTS voluntarily enlisted and suspended group activities for two years. The void they left, however, was so significant that the South Korean government has seemingly realized it may be time to reform the exemption system to avoid repeating the same mistake.

On the 20th, during a National Assembly hearing with the Military Manpower Administration (MMA), Rep. Sung Il-jong, chairman of the National Defense Committee and a member of the People Power Party, pointed out that the current exemption or alternative service system for artists heavily favors domestic competitions.

At present, 35 competitions are officially recognized as eligible for the artist exemption program, 11 of which are held in South Korea. Notably, five of these are domestic art competitions labeled as “international,” yet they grant the same exemption privileges as winners of world-renowned contests such as the Chopin International Piano Competition — one of the three most prestigious piano competitions in the world.

In contrast, globally recognized awards such as the Nobel Prize and the Grammy Awards are not covered by the exemption system, as they are not legally recognized under current regulations. Therefore, Rep. Sung argued that the entire system requires fundamental reform.

During the hearing, Rep. Sung questioned Hong So-young, Commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration:

“Among the competitions eligible for exemption, five are actually domestic but labeled as ‘international.’ If 91% of the beneficiaries come from these so-called ‘international’ events, can this system really be considered fair and balanced?”

Commissioner Hong responded, “I, too, have doubts about its fairness.”

Rep. Sung further emphasized:

“Individuals like BTS, who generated 56 trillion won in economic value for our country, are not granted exemption, while others who contribute little to the nation enjoy special privileges. How could citizens possibly view that as fair?”

Commissioner Hong did not provide a concrete answer, offering only a general response:

“Because the criteria for evaluating and certifying art and cultural competitions fall outside our jurisdiction, we must work together with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. We will actively cooperate to review and adjust the current standards.”

She added:

“We will improve the military service system to reflect changes in the security environment and current social demands, and establish a system where the rights and duties of those serving are balanced. We will do our utmost to make military service something to take pride in — something that makes our citizens feel fulfilled.”

After this news was reported by major Korean media outlets, many K-netizens argued that the government had learned a hard lesson — politically, economically, and socially — from sending BTS to the military for two years.

Global attention toward South Korea — and particularly K-pop — has noticeably declined during BTS’s absence. Industry experts have pointed out that the overall atmosphere of the entertainment sector has become lackluster due to the absence of a leading figure. Google data also indicates that global interest in K-pop has decreased since peaking in 2022, coinciding with BTS’s enlistment period.

The number of international nominations and awards for K-pop has also declined significantly. Notably, since BTS began their military service, no K-pop act has received a Grammy nomination, and major global award wins have been few and far between. Clearly, no group has reached BTS’s level of influence in recent years.

Economically, the decline in international tourism is evident. When BTS was active—especially during their concert tours—tourism boomed, driving growth across the airline, hospitality, and service industries. Conversely, during BTS’s hiatus, physical album sales in K-pop dropped sharply, with few releases surpassing one million copies sold. Analysts estimate that the South Korean economy lost around USD 3.9 billion annually due to BTS’s group hiatus.

According to Reuters, in 2023, major entertainment companies collectively lost about 8.6 trillion won (≈ USD 6.2 billion) in market value from their peak, partly as a result of BTS suspending group activities.

And these are only the measurable consequences—there are countless other intangible losses resulting from BTS’s two-year absence. The group’s contribution—around 0.3% of South Korea’s total GDP when active—was clearly no small matter.

Although the government’s realization came late, as BTS have already completed their service without any special treatment, this development underscores the group’s immense influence—extending far beyond music into the realms of politics, economics, and society.