BTS Members Will Serve in S. Korean Military

BTS Members Will Serve in S. Korean Military

The members of K-pop band BTS will serve their required military service under South Korean law. The band's management company made the announcement Monday.

There had been debate over whether the group members could be given an exemption¹ from service because of their artistic² success.

Big Hit Music said the band's oldest member, Jin, will cancel his request to delay his service. The six other BTS members also plan to serve in the military.

The group is looking forward to joining together again "around 2025 following their service commitment," the company said in a statement.

No additional information on the timing³ of their service was given. The band members performed together in Busan, Korea, over the weekend. That will be their last performance as a group until they finish serving in the military, Big Hit said.

Hybe is the parent company of Big Hit. In a letter to shareholders⁴, Hybe CEO Park Jiwon said there should not be financial concerns related to the BTS military service. He said the company had signed other successful artists like K-pop group NewJeans, and Western performers Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande.

"We have always been aware of the eventuality of mandatory⁶ military service, and we have long been making preparations to be ready for this moment," Park wrote. He added that "individual activities for several of the members are planned into the first half of 2023..."

The announcement came after South Korea's commissioner⁷ of the Military Manpower Administration, told lawmakers this month that it would be "desirable" for BTS members to serve in the military. He said it would guarantee fairness.

After joining the military, Jin and other BTS members will receive five weeks of combat training before being assigned to units, military officials said. The officials said that the singers would go through the same process as other South Korean men.

South Korea's military for years had assigned entertainers to jobs related to producing radio and television material for the military. But the "entertainment soldier" system was ended in 2013 because of concerns over fairness.

Defense⁸ Minister Lee Jong-sup said in August that if BTS members joined the military, they would likely be permitted to continue practicing and to join with the group for tours around the world.

The possibility of BTS members serving in the army had been a highly debated issue in South Korea. Jin turns 30 in December, the age at which men can no longer delay entering the military. Other members are currently between 25 and 29 years old.

Under South Korean law, most able-bodied men are required to perform 18 to 21 months of military service. Special exemptions⁹ had been given for athletes and artists who perform well in certain international competitions.

The band formed in 2013 and has fans around the world who call themselves the "Army."

After building a large following in Asia, BTS grew its popularity in the West with its 2020 song "Dynamite," the band's first all-English song. That song was the first by a K-pop group to go number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100.

South Korea's required military service interferes¹⁰ with young men in their professional careers or studies. Because of this, avoiding military service is a highly sensitive issue.

Opinion studies in recent weeks showed that the public was divided over whether the BTS members should serve in the military.

Words in This Story

management — n. the act or skill of controlling and making decisions about a business, department, sports team, etc.

exemption — n. freedom from being required to do something that others are required to do

CEO — n. the person who has the most authority in an organization or business

eventual⁵ — adj. coming or happening at a later time

mandatory — adj. required by a law or rule

tour — n. a journey through the different parts of a country, region, etc.

athlete — n. a person who is trained in or good at sports, games, or exercises that require physical skill and strength

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 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

3 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

4 shareholders   

n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The meeting was attended by 90% of shareholders. 90%的股东出席了会议。
• the company's fiduciary duty to its shareholders 公司对股东负有的受托责任

5 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。

6 mandatory   

adj.命令的；强制的；义务的；n.受托者

参考例句：

• It's mandatory to pay taxes.缴税是义务性的。
• There is no mandatory paid annual leave in the U.S.美国没有强制带薪年假。

7 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

8 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。

9 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

10 interferes   

vi. 妨碍，冲突，干涉

参考例句：

• The noise interferes with my work. 这噪音妨碍我的工作。
• That interferes with my plan. 那干扰了我的计划。