South Korea has amended its military service law, allowing members of the globally successful K-pop group BTS to defer their compulsory service until age 30, effectively extending the group's active career by two years.
Previously, South Korean men were required to enlist by age 28, which threatened the timeline for BTS members Jin and Suga, both nearing that age. Jin turns 28 on December 4. The new law, proposed in September by Democratic party member Jeon Yong-gi, raises the maximum deferral age to 30 for those already granted deferrals due to cultural contributions.
BTS has been eligible for deferral since 2018, recognized for their global cultural impact. However, unlike some classical musicians and athletes, they are not exempt from service entirely. Jeon stated the change aims to balance fairness with allowing artists to flourish during their peak years.
The decision comes as BTS achieves historic milestones, including their first Korean-language No. 1 single in the US, “Life Goes On,” and a Grammy nomination for best pop duo/group performance. Their album “Be” also topped charts in the US and UK.
Other K-pop groups like Big Bang have temporarily disbanded or changed lineups due to military service. BTS member Jin acknowledged the duty, saying in 2019, “As a Korean, it’s natural. And some day, when duty calls, we’ll be ready to respond and do our best.”
