South Korea’s defense minister claims that BTS can continue to operate during military enlistment

South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jeong-seop has said that the BTS can continue to operate even while serving their mandatory military service.

At the National Defense Commission held at South Korea’s National Assembly on Monday (August 1), Lee discussed the Defense Ministry’s position on BTS military service conditions.

“I think BTS could enlist in the army and still have time to practice and perform overseas,” Lee said, as reported by News1.

“The Ministry of National Defense has carried out a review [la cuestión del alistamiento de BTS] taking into account the preservation of justice, fairness and the resources of the military service, and may continue to act in the national interest,” he said.

According to Reuters, the minister said: “As many people place a high value on [a los artistas que sirven] in the army, which will help increase its demand.”

Military Personnel Association Director Lee Ki-shik is also reported to have said that applying additional exemptions to pop culture figures, on top of existing military provisions, could “break the general framework of exemption from military service”.

His comment suggests that the boy band is unlikely to receive a full waiver from service, although steps can be taken to continue their promotional activities at the same time.

However, the South Korean parliament is currently debating a bill that could allow major pop music figures such as BTS to provide an “other” service as artistic and cultural personnel.

In May, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hwang Hee called for the boy to be exempted from compulsory military service in South Korea, saying, “It is time to create a system for popular culture figures such as art staff to incorporation.

Under South Korea’s current Military Service law, all able-bodied Korean men must enlist for approximately two years of military service before their 28th birthday. The 2020 amendment allowed pop musicians who have received cultural merits from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to request that their enlistment be postponed until the age of 30.

BTS member Jin is in the spotlight amid discussions about his military enlistment, which will turn 30 in December 2022. Jin and his agency HYBE have yet to announce their plans for military service.

Yesterday, BTS rapper J-Hope made history by becoming the first South Korean artist to headline Lollapalooza. The idol closed out the final night of this year’s Chicago Music Festival, performing a total of 18 songs over a 70-minute set, including eight of the 10 tracks from his newly released solo album, “Jack In The Box”.

In a five-star review of the album, NME’s Rhian Daly described it as “exciting and full of fresh new flavour,” adding, “‘Jack In The Box’ captures the J-Hope that the world knows . for the past nine years and it burns. But from the ashes rises a star who is more exciting and impressive than ever and someone who can’t be stopped.”

BTS is taking a temporary break from group activities, and its members plan to “take time to explore some solo projects” in the meantime. During a recent live stream, the RM leader revealed that he may be the next member to release a solo album, revealing that his next project is “90 percent” complete.