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Post by Admin on Dec 1, 2020 20:35:18 GMT
Here in the United States, where we stopped drafting people into the military back in 1973, it’s easy to forget that lots of other countries around the world still require their citizens to serve. In South Korea, young men have to enlist for around 20 months by the time they turn 28, and the government doesn’t issue many exceptions. But with the oldest member of global K-pop phenomenon BTS, Kim Seok-jin, turning 28 on Friday and due to report for duty, the South Korean parliament stepped in and passed a so-called “BTS Law” allowing K-pop stars to postpone military service until they turn 30. Under the revised Military Service Act, stars who’ve been awarded “Order of Cultural Merit” medals for spreading South Korea’s cultural influence are eligible to defer their conscription. As it happens, all seven members of BTS received the medal from the government in 2018. Lawmakers introduced the “BTS Law” back in September, after BTS became the first South Korean group to top the Billboard charts with their single “Dynamite.” Draft extensions are regularly granted to top athletes and Olympians and some internationally-renowned classical musicians. This marks the first time K-pop stars have been extended the same privilege. “It’s a sacred duty to defend our country, but that doesn’t mean that everyone has to carry a weapon,” senior lawmaker Noh Woong-rae said in a statement supporting special treatment for BTS back in October. The deferment is an early birthday present from the South Korean government to Jin, who would’ve otherwise had to walk away from BTS at what’s likely the pinnacle of his career. When other members of well-known groups have decamped for boot camp, they’re often greeted by throngs of fans — kind of like Elvis reporting for duty in 1958. Anyhow, Jin won’t have to serve for another couple of years, and fans are overjoyed. http://instagram.com/p/CHulxERFr95 |
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Post by Admin on Dec 1, 2020 20:53:22 GMT
South Korean lawmakers passed a bill on Tuesday that will likely give major pop stars the ability to postpone their mandatory national military service, reversing course on a previous government ruling that has threatened to deprive the nation of its biggest cultural export: the boyband BTS. It will be welcome news for the seven-member pop group's legions of diehard fans around the world, who were celebrating the band's unprecedented position at the top of the Billboard chart on Tuesday.
With the country still technically at war with North Korea, the South has laws that amount to what Americans would think of as a military draft. All healthy South Korean men must serve in the military for at least 18 months before turning 28.
There are exemptions for people in certain professions, including professional athletes and even musicians from non-pop genres whose contributions are deemed particularly valuable to the country. There are also concessions for certified legal and medical professionals. But as of now, per a decision made about a year ago by the Ministry of Defense, pop stars don't get a pass.
However, the bill passed on Tuesday by an overwhelming majority of South Korea's lawmakers — only 2 of the 270 votes cast were against the legislation — means the kings of "K-pop" may soon be able to defer their national service until the age of 30. President Moon Jae-in is widely expected to sign the bill into law within a couple weeks.
Under the law, deferment waivers would be granted to pop musicians who have won awards and are thus qualified to get an official recommendation from the Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism.
While an 18-month career interruption may seem insignificant, for South Korea's boybands, the hint is in the name: they're boybands, not manbands. Youthful vitality is part of the image that K-pop has sold with incredible — and increasing — success around the world.
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Post by Admin on Dec 2, 2020 4:54:44 GMT
South Korea is technically still at war with the North, meaning that two years of military service is mandatory for all able-bodied men. Though war seems hypothetical, fear of clashes with the North, lagging behind on studies and reduced job prospects weigh heavily on young men, but few go so far as to refuse to enlist. Those who trick authorities or decide to be conscientious objectors face jail time. Yena Lee and Constantin Simon report.
MANY South Koreans support the granting of military service deferrals for K-pop stars as they have contributed to the country's prestige on the world stage.
More than half of Koreans surveyed said they support the move as the government pushes to legally allow such performers to delay their service to the age of 30.
This is especially so following K-pop boy band BTS taking a leading position in the global entertainment scene.
According to Realmeter's nationwide survey of 500 voters over 18 years of age, 58.8 per cent responded they supported the revision to the military service law to allow deferrals, while 31.4 per cent disapproved of it.
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Post by Admin on Mar 1, 2021 6:16:26 GMT
Halsey, Steve Aoki and more artists slammed the radio station's "racism and xenophobia." Bayern 3, a radio station in Bavaria, Germany, has issued a statement after host Matthias Matuschik compared BTS to the coronavirus on-air. After playing BTS' cover of Coldplay's "Fix You" on Wednesday (Feb. 24), Matuschik said their version of the song was "blasphemy" and likened the K-pop superstars to "some crappy virus that hopefully there will be a vaccine for soon as well," the Associated Press reports.  "I have nothing against South Korea. You can’t accuse me of xenophobia only because this boy band is from South Korea ... I have a car from South Korea. I have the coolest car around," he said. Matuschik then suggested BTS "will be vacationing in North Korea for the next 20 years" for their "Fix You" cover. In a response obtained by the AP, the radio station said Matuschik was "presenting his opinion in an ironic, exaggerated way and with exaggerated excitement, his words went too far and hurt the feelings of BTS fans. But he -- and he has assured us of this -- in no way intended this. He just wanted to express his displeasure over the aforementioned cover version." "That does not change the fact that many of you found his statements to be hurtful or racist,” said Bayern 3. “We apologize for this in every way possible. We will work on the matter with Matthias and the team in detail again in the next few days.” Besides outraging the BTS ARMY, Matuschik's comments were denounced by several music industry peers on social media. "I am horrified to read the comments made by Matthias Matuschik," Halsey wrote in a note on her Instagram Stories Friday night (Feb. 26). "Racism and xenophobia cannot be thinly veiled as 'on air humor.' Irresponsible and disgusting statements in a time where hate speech and violent behavior towards Asian communities are skyrocketing. This is unacceptable. I hope a better apology to BTS, and the Asian communities across the world, is on its way." |
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