South Korea’s parliament has passed a bill allowing Grammy-nominated K-pop artistes BTS to postpone their mandatory military service until the age of 30. Able-Bodied South Korean men aged between 18 and 28, are required to serve in the military for two years. But as per the new law passed by the Parliament, the popular Bangtan boys can now defer their military service.
The amendment to the Military Service Act passed on Tuesday. It is designed to provide exceptions for K-pop megastars who improve the country’s cultural status and boost the economy.
South Korea allows eligible students to defer enlistment up to age 28. It has also granted exemptions to high-profile classical musicians, sportsmen also athletes who have won medals at the Olympics. Tottenham Hotspur football player Son Heung-min is among those who have already been given an exemption.
But it is for the first time that K-Pop stars have been exempted from Military service. The new bill will ensure that the entertainers can defer their service to the age of 30.
The seven-member boy band is at present rewriting K-pop history. They have notched a first-ever No 1 hit single on the US Billboard charts with the song Dynamite. Also bagged a Grammy nomination as a K-pop band. Its new song Life Goes On, also became the first-ever Korean song to land at No 1 on the Billboard’s main singles chart. ‘Life Goes On’ becomes the first Hot 100 No. 1 in the chart’s 62-year history sung predominantly in Korean.
Also Read: BTS Top The Billboard Global Charts With Life Goes On