BTS Members Will Serve in South Korean Military
2022-10-18
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1The members of K-pop band BTS will serve their required military service under South Korean law.
2The band's management company made the announcement Monday.
3There had been debate over whether the group members could be given an exemption from service because of their artistic success.
4Big Hit Music said the band's oldest member, Jin, will cancel his request to delay his service.
5The six other BTS members also plan to serve in the military.
6The group is looking forward to joining together again "around 2025 following their service commitment," the company said in a statement.
7No additional information on the timing of their service was given.
8The band members performed together in Busan, Korea, over the weekend.
9That will be their last performance as a group until they finish serving in the military, Big Hit said.
10Hybe is the parent company of Big Hit.
11In a letter to shareholders, Hybe CEO Park Jiwon said there should not be financial concerns related to the BTS military service.
12He said the company had signed other successful artists like K-pop group NewJeans, and Western performers Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande.
13"We have always been aware of the eventuality of mandatory military service, and we have long been making preparations to be ready for this moment," Park wrote.
14He added that "individual activities for several of the members are planned into the first half of 2023..."
15The announcement came after South Korea's commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration, told lawmakers this month that it would be "desirable" for BTS members to serve in the military.
16He said it would guarantee fairness.
17After joining the military, Jin and other BTS members will receive five weeks of combat training before being assigned to units, military officials said.
18The officials said that the singers would go through the same process as other South Korean men.
19South Korea's military for years had assigned entertainers to jobs related to producing radio and television material for the military.
20But the "entertainment soldier" system was ended in 2013 because of concerns over fairness.
21Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said in August that if BTS members joined the military, they would likely be permitted to continue practicing and to join with the group for tours around the world.
22The possibility of BTS members serving in the army had been a highly debated issue in South Korea.
23Jin turns 30 in December, the age at which men can no longer delay entering the military.
24Other members are currently between 25 and 29 years old.
25Under South Korean law, most able-bodied men are required to perform 18 to 21 months of military service.
26Special exemptions had been given for athletes and artists who perform well in certain international competitions.
27The band formed in 2013 and has fans around the world who call themselves the "Army."
28After building a large following in Asia, BTS grew its popularity in the West with its 2020 song "Dynamite," the band's first all-English song.
29That song was the first by a K-pop group to go number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100.
30South Korea's required military service interferes with young men in their professional careers or studies.
31Because of this, avoiding military service is a highly sensitive issue.
32Opinion studies in recent weeks showed that the public was divided over whether the BTS members should serve in the military.
33I'm Dan Novak.
1The members of K-pop band BTS will serve their required military service under South Korean law. The band's management company made the announcement Monday. 2There had been debate over whether the group members could be given an exemption from service because of their artistic success. 3Big Hit Music said the band's oldest member, Jin, will cancel his request to delay his service. The six other BTS members also plan to serve in the military. 4The group is looking forward to joining together again "around 2025 following their service commitment," the company said in a statement. 5No additional information on the timing of their service was given. The band members performed together in Busan, Korea, over the weekend. That will be their last performance as a group until they finish serving in the military, Big Hit said. 6Hybe is the parent company of Big Hit. In a letter to shareholders, Hybe CEO Park Jiwon said there should not be financial concerns related to the BTS military service. He said the company had signed other successful artists like K-pop group NewJeans, and Western performers Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. 7"We have always been aware of the eventuality of mandatory military service, and we have long been making preparations to be ready for this moment," Park wrote. He added that "individual activities for several of the members are planned into the first half of 2023..." 8The announcement came after South Korea's commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration, told lawmakers this month that it would be "desirable" for BTS members to serve in the military. He said it would guarantee fairness. 9After joining the military, Jin and other BTS members will receive five weeks of combat training before being assigned to units, military officials said. The officials said that the singers would go through the same process as other South Korean men. 10South Korea's military for years had assigned entertainers to jobs related to producing radio and television material for the military. But the "entertainment soldier" system was ended in 2013 because of concerns over fairness. 11Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said in August that if BTS members joined the military, they would likely be permitted to continue practicing and to join with the group for tours around the world. 12The possibility of BTS members serving in the army had been a highly debated issue in South Korea. Jin turns 30 in December, the age at which men can no longer delay entering the military. Other members are currently between 25 and 29 years old. 13Under South Korean law, most able-bodied men are required to perform 18 to 21 months of military service. Special exemptions had been given for athletes and artists who perform well in certain international competitions. 14The band formed in 2013 and has fans around the world who call themselves the "Army." 15After building a large following in Asia, BTS grew its popularity in the West with its 2020 song "Dynamite," the band's first all-English song. That song was the first by a K-pop group to go number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100. 16South Korea's required military service interferes with young men in their professional careers or studies. Because of this, avoiding military service is a highly sensitive issue. 17Opinion studies in recent weeks showed that the public was divided over whether the BTS members should serve in the military. 18I'm Dan Novak. 19Dan Novak adapted this story based on reporting by The Associated Press. 20_________________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22management - n. the act or skill of controlling and making decisions about a business, department, sports team, etc. 23exemption - n. freedom from being required to do something that others are required to do 24CEO - n. the person who has the most authority in an organization or business 25eventual - adj. coming or happening at a later time 26mandatory - adj. required by a law or rule 27tour - n. a journey through the different parts of a country, region, etc. 28athlete - n. a person who is trained in or good at sports, games, or exercises that require physical skill and strength