BTS member Jin/Courtesy of BitHit Entertainment

Members will start enlisting into army in 2020

The seven members of K-pop superstar BTS will start enlisting into the army next year. Then, what will happen to the world’s biggest boy band that debuted in 2013?

Will they break up and go separate ways or take a long hiatus. In a recent interview with CBS, BTS members of RM, Jin, J-hope, Suga, Jimin, V, and Jungkook talked about the sensitive topic.

“As a Korean, it’s natural,” Jin said. “And, someday, when duty calls we’ll be ready to respond and do our best.”

The remarks of Jin, who was born in 1992, caught attention because he is the first member who should be ready for the mandatory military service by next June.

In Korea, men between the age of 18 and 28 should serve at least 21 months in the military. There are exceptions for athletes or musicians but those do not apply to K-pop stars.

Jungkook, who was born in 1997 hence can delay his conscription to 2026, was reluctant to discuss how the military service would affect the idol group.

“I don’t want to think about it at this point,” he said. “We have something really good going.”

Leader RM whose deadline for military enlistment is 2023 concurred.

"That's the answer. We just enjoy the ride, live in the moment, and that's all we can do," RM said.

The other four members would be required to go for military service between 2022 and 2024 at the latest.

There is a debate on whether the Bangtan Boys should merit military exemption. In particular, a lawmaker raised the issue last year to draw nationwide attention.

Some claim that they should be granted conscription exemptions since they have raised the awareness of Korea across the world. But still many are against the idea.

In this country, any politicians, bureaucrats, or businessmen who try to make their sons escape military service get a heavy backlash in public support. That is the case for idols, too.

Like many other bands, BTS will eventually split up and possibly that might be next year because Jin will have to leave. Otherwise, BTS will become a six-member band or a new boy will take part in the group, experts said.

 

Related story

Korea News Plus BTS section

 
이 기사를 공유합니다
Copyright © The Korea News Plus