BTS Break Starts Debate on Military Service in S. Korea

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BTS Break Starts Debate on Military Service in S. Korea

The recent decision by South Korean music group BTS to take a break has restarted a debate about the country's required military service.

All healthy South Korean men between the ages of 18 and 28 are required to serve for about two years in the military. The requirement is part of the country's efforts to defend against a hostile North Korea.

Over the years, some men have received exemptions² that permit them to delay their service in the armed forces or serve a shorter service. These include medal winners at the Olympics or Asian Games and classical musicians and dancers who win top prizes at certain competitions. In 2019, exemptions were added for internationally recognized Korean pop music stars. K-pop stars are permitted to delay their service until the age of 30.

South Korea's Parliament is now debating a new amendment³ that would let pop stars do just three weeks of military training. For BTS, especially the band's oldest member, the result of the debate will be hugely important.

The oldest member is known to fans as Jin. He is 29 years old. He has delayed his required military service for as long as he could. The star is facing the immediate⁴ possibility of serving two full years when he turns 30. That would mean two years away from the band and the fans.

Yoon Sang-hyun is the lawmaker who proposed the amendment to limit training for K-pop stars to three weeks. He said the wait has been stressful for Jin and the rest of BTS.

"The members cited exhaustion⁵ and the need for rest as the main reason, but the real reason was Jin's military service," Yoon told the Reuters news agency.

Yoon said that BTS members had raised South Korea's image around the world. That, Yoon said, should be noted⁶ when considering their military service. "BTS has done a job that would take more than 1,000 diplomats⁷ to do," he said.

Hard time

Since the group's first performance in 2013, BTS has become a worldwide success with its music and social campaigns aimed at empowering young people.

BTS became the first Asian musical group to win artist of the year at the American Music Awards last year. In May, they met U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss hate crimes targeting Asians.

Choi Kwang-ho is secretary-general of the Korea Music Content Association, which represents K-pop music. He said the wait for a parliamentary decision has been extremely painful. "The young artists have been tortured with hopes that never come true," Choi said.

A Gallup opinion study in April showed nearly 60 percent of South Koreans supported the bill exempting⁸ internationally successful K-pop stars from full military service. Thirty-three percent of South Koreans opposed the bill.

BTS and its representative, Big Hit, have stayed out of the debate on military exemptions. Lee Jin-hyung is with Big Hit. In April, he told reporters in Las Vegas that some members of the band were having a "hard time" because of "uncertainties⁹" over the parliament debate. He called for a decision.

When asked by reporters about Lee's comment, Jin said he was letting Big Hit deal with the issue. Jin, however, added that he felt the same way.

K-pop is not the only industry hoping for a change in the military service rules. The new administration of President Yoon Suk-yeol is considering exemptions for some engineers and researchers in the computer chip and other technology fields.

The Ministry¹⁰ of Defense¹¹ pointed¹² to a constitutional requirement for all citizens to do their duty to defend the country. Adding exemptions for pop culture artists and sports stars, a ministry official said, "requires careful consideration in terms of fairness."

Some young men also wonder about the case for special treatment for BTS.

Seo Chang-jun is 20 years old. He said he understood why Olympic winners got an exemption¹. But he was not sure about an exemption for BTS.

"The Olympic Games are national events where all Koreans cheer for the same team, but not everyone is a BTS fan, he told Reuters. "Many people aren't interested in them."

Words in This Story

exemption - n. freedom from requiring to do something

stressful - adj. making you feel anxious or worries

cite - v. to mention something to support an idea or opinion

1 exemption   

n.豁免，免税额，免除

参考例句：

• You may be able to apply for exemption from local taxes.你可能符合资格申请免除地方税。
• These goods are subject to exemption from tax.这些货物可以免税。

2 exemptions   

n.（义务等的）免除( exemption的名词复数 )；免（税）；（收入中的）免税额

参考例句：

• The exemptions for interpretive rules, policy statements, and procedural rules have just been discussed. 有关解释性规则、政策说明和程序规则的免责我们刚刚讨论过。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• A: The regulation outlines specific exemptions for some WPM. 答：该规定概述了某些木质包装材料的特定的例外情形。 来自互联网

3 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

4 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

5 exhaustion   

n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述

参考例句：

• She slept the sleep of exhaustion.她因疲劳而酣睡。
• His exhaustion was obvious when he fell asleep standing.他站着睡着了，显然是太累了。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 exempting   

使免除[豁免]( exempt的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• EPA adopted regulations exempting discharges from agricultural activities, with certain exceptions for relatively major pollution sources. 环境保护局采用管制规章，禁止源自农业活动的各种排放，对于一些相关的大型污染源也有例外。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

9 uncertainties   

无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物

参考例句：

• One of the uncertainties of military duty is that you never know when you might suddenly get posted away. 任军职不稳定的因素之一是你永远不知道什么时候会突然被派往它处。
• Uncertainties affecting peace and development are on the rise. 影响和平与发展的不确定因素在增加。 来自汉英非文学 - 十六大报告

10 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

11 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

12 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。