BTS members will take a career break to serve in the army
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World fever, especially among teenagers, boy band South Corean BTS must stop his artistic activities so that the seven members of the group can serve in their country's army. The information comes from the company that manages them, the big hit, who also reported a possible return around 2025, once the seven boys are done with their military commitments.
BTS in the army
Big Hit claims that the first member of BTS to enter the army will be the longest-serving artist in the group: Kim Seokjin, known as Jin. The 29-year-old plans to enlist once his solo project launches in late October 2022.
South Korea's governing military conscription system requires that all eligible men serve at least 18 months in the military by age 28, due to ongoing threats from the military. North Korea. There are exemptions available for certain athletes and performing artists, especially those working in classical and traditional music.
When Jin turned 28 in 2020, the government offered him a 20-year delay to enter the army in recognition of BTS' efforts in "improve Korea's international image“. He was one of the first K-pop stars to receive such a reprieve.
In June 2022 the band announced via video that they were taking a break of unspecified duration. The rapper of the group RM, also known as Kim Nam Joon, said in this same video that after 10 years of living as BTS and working all our schedules, it's physically impossible [for him] to mature any further.
Artistic and military life?
Possibly this credit that the group has with the country, can give them an “extra work”, since the local authorities are considering allowing the boys to serve in the army and, also, perform their performances as boy band. Not to mention a debate that is apparently moving the South Korean parliament to discuss the length of this period to three weeks.
The minister Lee Jong-sup has already positioned itself on the case, stating that there is a possibility of the boys doing both activities at the same time. Military service is controversial in South Korea, as men must fulfill their duties as part of efforts to defend against nuclear-armed neighboring North Korea.
Over the years, some men have been granted exemptions — being able to defer the job or take a shorter job. Facility recipients include medal winners at the Olympic and Asian Games, as well as classical musicians and dancers who win top prizes in certain competitions.
The military obligation in the country
There are these rumors that the boys of BTS won't have to spend that much time in the military because there have been similar cases. Tottenham football player, His Heung-min, completed his three-week mandatory military service in 2020, as well as being the winner of an award for best performance. Son won a 21-month exemption from mandatory military service after helping South Korea win the 2018 Asian Games.
BTS announced in June that they were taking a break from growing up and pursuing solo projects for a while and made it clear that this split wouldn't be a goodbye forever. In a parliamentary session, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said that by allowing BTS to keep performing, the military can serve national interests without affecting the shrinking of resources due to low birth rates in the country.
A boy band with seven members has great credit with the government of South Korea as one of the major influences in the spread of Korean culture around the world. A more formal example of this is the fact that the dictionary Oxford have announced last year that they were adding 26 Korean words to their edit.
They were named the world's best-selling artists of 2021 in a chart recently compiled by the music industry's governing body, the IFPI. The band became the first Asian band to win the artist of the year award at the American Music Awards last year, and met with the US President, Joe Biden, at the White House in May to discuss hate crimes against Asians.
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