How K-pop Stars Navigate Mandatory Military Service
International K-pop superstars BTS have been at the top of their game over the past couple of years, winning hearts and racking up awards while touring the world, releasing films, and performing alongside stars like Halsey and Lil Nas X. They haven't done it alone. The voracious ARMY remains by their side: their hardcore, dedicated fanbase. ARMY would move mountains for BTS, and as such, the group’s very name is a testament to their power. But as powerful as ARMY is, there’s one thing they have no control over: each member of BTS will eventually have to join the South Korean military – and leave the band – for about two long years.
Fans were hoping that BTS would possibly be exempt from service since a small group of entertainers and athletes are every year. But this November, the Korean government clarified that the members of BTS will not receive exemptions from military duty. And as the Korea Herald reports, the government also hopes to reduce the exemption system due to a shortage of people eligible for national service.
This situation isn't unique to BTS. It’s an issue facing nearly every male K-pop group in South Korea. Massive stars like SHINee's Key and Minho, 2AM's Jinwoon, and VIXX's N are already enlisted and currently serving in various branches of the military. Meanwhile, BIGBANG members T.O.P., G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung were all discharged this year after completing their service terms.
It's all a part of the country's mandatory enlistment directive, which is handled by the Military Manpower Administration. Mandatory conscription has existed in South Korea since 1957 and requires all men unless “physically or socially undesirable” between the ages of 18 and 28 to serve in the military for a duration of around two years, based on which branch they opt to join. Up until August 2018, the laws that governed the maximum age men could delay compulsory enlistment was lowered from 30 to 28. Compulsory service is mandated by Article 39 of the South Korean constitution.
While there are exemptions that do exist to keep some men from having to enlist, those protections don’t extend to K-pop stars. In recent years, only a select group of artists, Olympic medalists, athletes who win gold at the Asian Games, and a few others may be granted exemption. The the select artists who receive exemptions are those who win second place or higher at certain international arts competitions and top placers at an arts competition in South Korea.
When it's time for enlistment, K-pop stars’ management companies often release official reports or tell fans through their social media accounts. For example, EXO’s D.O. wrote a handwritten letter that he posted to EXO’s official fan club. These announcements sometimes follow with send-off parties, K-pop groups sharing their last moments together on social media.
After conscription, many artists must put their careers on hold while serving in the military. This leaves some groups to make do with the remaining members for performances and creating new music in their bandmates’ stead. Younger members of idol groups can stretch their wings during this downtime by pursuing solo careers, film or television projects. But deflating public interest is always a concern, as pop music is a fast-moving world. This means taking a few months, or even a year off in the life of a K-pop artist’s career can be detrimental.
Some groups have made the decision to stagger who enlists and when so that members can rotate out and back in on a regular basis. This buys them enough time to release new music, perform at shows, and remain on a career life support, as it were, to ensure their time in the spotlight doesn't simply fade out. On the flip side, some fans are currently urging BTS to opt for enlisting together when it comes to their military service, as it would guarantee less overall downtime for the massively successful group. While time apart can indeed be beneficial for members of the group looking to explore additional facets of their careers or solo projects, it’s often still viewed as a detriment for the group’s image as a whole.
Still, many K-pop stars acknowledge military service as a necessary task they must complete to get back to their fans as quickly as possible.
"As a Korean, it's natural," said BTS's Jin, speaking to CBS on the mandatory service expectations. "And, someday, when duty calls we'll be ready to respond and do our best."
After artists complete their time in the military return, there's often an air of "seniority" they carry with them when rejoining the groups they departed. Thus, they come back to the business with what some describe as a more “mature” image. They take on more grown-up images while pursuing solo careers, and while they may still be the same artists they were before they left, fans often see them in a new light following their enlistment.
It’s unclear how conscription may affect BTS’s global momentum. But for right now, however, it seems your favorite K-pop artists currently serving are handling the situation with grace, however, and working diligently to return from military service.
Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
