BTS Enlists Into the Army—No, Not Their Fanbase

Whether you’re scrolling through Instagram or shopping in H&M, everyone has heard a BTS song at some point. The 7 member boy band is extremely popular—global, even—and the special thing about them is that they’re South Korean natives. Debuting on June 12, 2013 under Bighit Music, BTS released their first title track “No More Dream.” Ever since then, their trajectory has only been upwards, winning Grammy awards and being spokespeople for the United Nations. It’s safe to say that their popularity—at this rate—is humongous, and they contribute over 3 billion dollars to the South Korean economy every year. Paralleling this economic contribution is the South Korean military requirement, which forces men up to the age of 30 to serve in the Korean Army for two years due to the ongoing threat from North Korea. Every member of BTS is in his twenties, and the question of when—or if—the boys would have to serve kept repeatedly coming up. Last summer, BTS announced that they would be going on hiatus for a little while to work on their own solo projects. Saturday, October 15, the band held their first concert in months, and two days later, released a statement that confirmed their hiatus decision. The seven of them will “reconvene as a group again” (stated by their agency via a Twitter statement) after completing their service. 

Korean military service is common within the K-Pop world, with fans sending their favorite idols off and cheering for them when they return home. However, with BTS, the stakes are different. The seven member group has entirely affected the whole economy of South Korea, as well as contributed to an incredible boost in South Korea tourism. Fans have argued that, considering the economical effect that BTS has had on an entire country, they should be exempted from military service. There have been exemptions made for athletes that win medals at international competitions such as the Olympics, but not for K-Pop stars. Comparing BTS’ success and the recognition that they’ve given South Korea compared to that of an Olympic athlete is reasonable. The argument for exemption is considerably strong given the impact that BTS has made on their home country. On the other hand, the 7 Korean men want to serve their country the way they’d always thought they would. Fans trust their decision, stating, “bts did the concert, canceled the military postponement and made a decision themselves instead. I have so much respect for these men.” 

Military enrollment is a big enough deal for normal families to have to deal with their husbands and sons leaving them for 2 years—sometimes even more, but BTS’ enrollment affects so many people and has so many different variables. Nevertheless, the members have decided to stick with their initial instincts to serve their country, even with the financial risk of not being able to return to the height they’re currently at. The group plans on reuniting in 2025 after their service is over. Until then, BTS will be with the Army—both the Korean one and their dedicated fans, of course.