'Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop' announced on the 31st August, 2022 that he would conduct a public opinion poll on whether or not to apply special military service to BTS.

Minister Lee attended a plenary meeting of the National Assembly Defense Committee on the morning of the same day, and answered a question to Rep. Seol Hoon of the Democratic Party of Korea, "Even if not, this morning "I have already instructed my staff to conduct a poll as soon as possible," he said.

Minister Lee said that he would set a deadline and draw a conclusion through opinion polls, etc. This is considered to mean that the military authorities will clarify the position of BTS on whether or not to apply special military service.

Minister Lee said, "We will consider the national interest from various dimensions, and we will make a decision as soon as possible."

BTS members who fall under the current military service law as 'excellents in the field of popular culture and arts' (those who have received cultural medals and medals among popular culture and artists and recommended by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism as having a remarkable contribution to the promotion of national prestige) are prohibited from enlisting until the age of 30. can be postponed.

Jin, the eldest member of BTS, was born in 1992 and postponed his enlistment until the age of 30 as an outstanding person in the field of popular culture and arts in 2020. Unless the Military Service Act is amended, Jin should enlist in the military within this year.

Suga, who was born in 1993, will also have to enlist next year, and then RM and J-Hope, V and Jimin, and Jungkook will enlist in order.

The debate over 'BTS military service' in the National Assembly is also tense

The Military Service Act allows persons with special skills in arts and sports prescribed by Presidential Decree, recommended by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to be transferred as arts and sports personnel. that is to provide.

However, the Enforcement Decree of the Military Service Act does not include 'popular culture' in the arts and sports specialties. Even if a popular artist contributes to the promotion of national prestige, he cannot be incorporated into the arts and sports personnel. In order for pop culture stars, including BTS, to receive special military service privileges, they only need to change the enforcement ordinance, but the Ministry of National Defense and the Military Manpower Administration have no intention of doing so. The trend of reducing military service resources due to a decrease in the fertility rate and damage to fairness and equity should be taken into consideration. It's a sensitive matter, so they don't even try to change the enforcement ordinance until it becomes a political burden.

So, there is a discussion in the National Assembly to revise the Military Service Act. Although there are slight differences, it is common to include popular artists in the military service exception.

Even in the National Assembly, the pros and cons were not able to reach a conclusion, but you can see the flow of the discussion just by looking at the remarks made by the National Assembly Defense Committee in November last year.

The debate over 'BTS military service' in the National Assembly is also tense.

The Military Service Act allows persons with special skills in arts and sports prescribed by Presidential Decree, recommended by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to be transferred as arts and sports personnel. that is to provide.

It is a scene where the standard for alternative service remains in the past and needs to be corrected because it does not fit with the trend of the times, and the Ministry of National Defense is not only difficult to establish the standard, but also counters the trend of reducing alternative service.