K-pop megaband BTS to serve military duty, agency says

Members of K-pop boy band BTS will fulfill South Korea’s national military duty, starting with its oldest member Jin, their agency HYBE Co. announced on Oct. 17.  

Jin will cancel his October request to further delay enlistment and from the end of October will begin the Military Manpower Administration’s procedures for enlistment. The other members will also serve their duty based on their respective timelines, the agency said in a regulatory filing.   

Jin had postponed military duty service and the enlistment process to December of this year when he turns 30. The military service act limits the maximum enlistment age to 28, but BTS members have delayed the enlistment to the age of 29 through a special consideration by the culture and sports ministry.

According to the act, the culture minister may grant artists and athletes alternatives to military service, which amount to an exemption from active military duty, in order to continue their professions.

However, the act has aroused controversy because it has excluded pop artists while embracing sports medalists and fine arts competition winners.    

Lawmakers have debated whether the mandatory military service waiver should be equally applied to pop artists. But the notion of granting the alternative option to the boy band has run up against arguments that it violates principles of fairness for all young men in the country.    

In Korea, in conflict with North Korea, all able-bodied men are required to serve in the military for 18 to 23 months.

Jin will enlist in the military once he receives his notice from the Military Manpower Administration. He is expected to start his mandatory service period after his solo debut later this year.

At a concert held in Busan on Oct. 15, the boy band said the show would be the last on their schedule, foreshadowing the plan for military service.

Upon releasing their new anthology album Proof in June, the boy band's agency said they will temporarily split up and perform individually until they reunite as the seven members need time for personal growth.   

HYBE stock closed at 115,000 won ($80.03) on Monday, down 2.54%. The announcement of serving military duty emerged after the market had closed.

Write to Sun-A Lee at suna@hankyung.com
Jihyun Kim edited this article.