South Korean authorities could conduct public survey on whether or not BTS members will serve army obligation

The South Korean authorities has introduced the potential for a public survey to find out whether or not to grant BTS exemptions from necessary army service.

Debates over the need of BTS’ fulfilment of native army conscription necessities have lengthy been a degree of public competition, which have lately intensified because the boyband’s oldest member, Jin, is because of flip 30 this December. The legislation requires all male Korean residents – no older than age 30 – to enlist within the army for necessary service.

On August 31, The Korea Times reported that South Korea’s defence minister Lee Jong-sup informed lawmakers that he has ordered officers to implement a survey to gauge the general public’s opinions on BTS’ enlistment. Lee additionally allegedly stated that his ministry will look into different contributing elements to the choice, together with the financial impact BTS has on the nation, the importance of army service and general nationwide pursuits.

After his alleged feedback turned controversy, the South Korean defence ministry later clarified in a separate assertion, per The Korea Occasions, that Lee had ordered officers to look at whether or not such a survey could be wanted earlier than launch, as a substitute of a right away initiation.

The brand new assertion additionally shared that officers had been requested to flesh out the main points previous to the survey’s launch, together with the company answerable for the conducting of the survey, how lengthy it could take and who could be surveyed.

The assertion emphasised {that a} third occasion organisation would perform the survey if it had been to occur to be able to guarantee equity. The ministry additionally maintained that the survey would solely be one of many many elements figuring out the ultimate choice of BTS’ enlistment exemption.

The information comes shortly after the mayor of Busan metropolis proposed to the South Korean presidential workplace that BTS be granted an alternative choice to – however not an exemption from – the nation’s army service mandate. The mayor cited BTS’ roles as ambassadors for Busan’s bid to host the World Metropolis Expo in 2030 as a motive for his proposal final month.