On October 17th, two days after the BTS “Yet To Come” concert in Busan, South Korea, Big Hit Music released a shocking statement via Twitter. The statement confirmed that all members of the musical group will be fulfilling their mandatory military service and will reconvene as a group in 2025. Enlistment will begin with the group’s eldest member, Jin, after he finishes promoting his solo album, “The Astronaut”. From now until then, the members will focus on their solo endeavors until it is time for each of them to enlist.
The K-pop community is no stranger to the long-standing debate of whether idols should be exempted from mandatory military service. For those of you that are unaware, South Korea’s government requires all able-bodied men, from ages 18 to 30, to enlist in the nation’s military and serve for approximately 18 to 21 months in order to counter potential threats from the North. However, exemptions are only provided to prominent athletes and musicians who elevate the status and prestige of the nation.
Many fans and government officials have made the argument that BTS deserves to have military exemptions because they have been contributing to the propagation of Korean culture across the globe. The list of achievements seem infinite: from working in conjunction with UNICEF on the Love Myself Campaign to promote self-esteem and mental health, to being awarded The Order of Cultural Merit by the South Korean government, and recently visiting the White House to discuss anti-Asian hate crimes. This is proof of the universal impact BTS has had on millions of people. The numbers don’t lie either. The current net worth of BTS is $3.6 billion and about $1.1 billion in BTS-related consumer goods are exported each year, further establishing the significance of the band on South Korea’s economy.
As the news reached millions of ARMYs, including myself, an array of emotions ensued after reading the statement. At first, I was devastated. The music that BTS created always felt like a blanket, keeping me warm whilst giving me comfort and protection when I needed it the most. Now, it feels like someone has ripped a part of my soul away, making me feel hollow inside. Despite accomplishing so much and uplifting South Korea’s honor, it felt unfair to that they were not receiving an exemption for their hard work and dedication. Eventually my melancholy evolved into pride. I realized that the boys wanted to complete their military service from the very beginning and their decision demonstrated their pride in being Korean. It reflects their sense of responsibility and the value they place on being treated equally, despite the fame they have garnered. Their decision was such a powerful move in the sense that they took initiative rather than waiting for a decree from the South Korean government.
“‘Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)’ is more than a track from their latest album, it is a promise, there’s so much more yet to come in the years ahead from BTS.” Just like BTS made a promise to us that they will come back soon, this is my promise to them: Just like you stood as a strong pillar for me and my dreams, I will also be there to support you and your ambitions. I will always wait for you with open arms. Borahae Bangtan Sonyeodan (I purple you, BTS)! 💜
References
By the Numbers: Bts Military Service. (2022, October 12). YouTube. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKEO9J5UVkg&ab_channel=ABCNews.
Jenny Regan, H. D., Regan, J., & Dailey, H. (2022, June 1). BTS visit the White House & Meet with president Joe Biden: Photos. Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from https://www.billboard.com/photos/bts-at-white-house-joe-biden-meeting-1235079570/
Herman, T. (2018, October 26). BTS awarded Order of Cultural merit by South Korean government. Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/bts-awarded-order-of-cultural-merit-by-south-korean-government-8481640/
Liu, K.-lin F. (2022, October 23). Why BTS not seeking a military exemption was sensible. NBCNews.com. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/bts-not-seeking-military-exemption-was-sensible-rcna53515
Music, B. (2022, October 17). [공지] 방탄소년단 병역 이행 및 향후 활동 계획 안내 (+eng/JPN/CHN) pic.twitter.com/jntf90ago4. Twitter. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from https://twitter.com/BIGHIT_MUSIC/status/1581905317545533440
Wylie, H. (2021, October 5). UNICEF and BTS celebrate success of ‘groundbreaking’ love myself campaign. UNICEF. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-and-bts-celebrate-success-groundbreaking-love-myself-campaign
Young, J. Y. (2022, October 17). BTS swap one army for another, vowing to honor South Korea’s draft. The New York Times. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/17/world/asia/bts-military-south-korea-enlist.html