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‘BTS members say they will definitely enlist for military service’: minister
The Korea Herald ^ | October 11, 2018 | Kim Arin

Posted on 10/11/2018 3:32:59 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

South Korea’s culture minister put an end to the debate surrounding whether BTS members would be exempted from military service during a parliamentary audit Wednesday.

“All of the BTS members say they will definitely enlist for military service,” said Do Jong-hwan who heads the country’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

His remarks came as Rep. Cho Kyung-tae of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party had asked about Do’s stance on the recent contentious issue: whether BTS members should be granted conscription exemptions on the grounds of the band’s flourishing music career.

The debate was initially sparked by a lawmaker from the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party on July 25. Rep. Ha Tae-kyung suggested at a National Defense Committee meeting that outstanding achievements in the popular culture industry should qualify for exemption from mandatory military service.

His argument was that topping Billboard charts should not be considered as less valuable than winning prestigious international classical music competitions, the latter of which merits military exemption according to the relevant law.

Ha’s suggestion to revise the existing law, first drafted in 1973 and last updated in 2015, was likely influenced by the fact that the Korean act BTS clinched two No. 1s on the Billboard 200 albums chart in 2018 alone

As mandatory military service is a touchy subject in Korea, intense discussions have followed. There has also been backlash, with an online petition calling for the band’s disbandment filed to the Blue House on Sept. 25.

“It is a shame that it is being reported as if the seven members (of BTS) are excusing themselves from military enlistment. As a matter of fact, they intend to do the exact opposite,” Do said of the matter, adding that plans to resolve complications related to conscription exemption are currently underway.

“The Ministry of Defense will work with the culture and arts department head to devise a reasonable alternative solution for artists,” he added.


TOPICS: Government; Military/Veterans; Music/Entertainment; Politics
KEYWORDS: conscription; korea; military; music
Good to hear that they're patriotic young men.
1 posted on 10/11/2018 3:32:59 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I hate it when they fail to expand the TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms).


2 posted on 10/11/2018 3:36:16 PM PDT by libertylover (Despite government propaganda, I know the difference between a boy and a girl.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
My neice had a weird obsession with Korean boy bands.

So much so that she went to Korea to teach English.

3 posted on 10/11/2018 3:37:25 PM PDT by Godebert
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To: Godebert

Eating Korean food anytime you want? I envy her.


4 posted on 10/11/2018 3:58:22 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You cannot invade the mainland US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

When my brother was in Korea, 1950 to 1954, were eating leftover C and K rations. he loved the people but times were hard.


5 posted on 10/11/2018 4:36:20 PM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again,")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

give us a hint, what is BTS?


6 posted on 10/11/2018 4:38:59 PM PDT by Chickensoup ( Leftists fascists today plan to commence to commit genocide against conservatives soon)
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To: fella

Think about how long ago that was. It is a completely different place now. They are ahead of us in many ways.


7 posted on 10/11/2018 4:40:26 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You cannot invade the mainland US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)
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To: Chickensoup
BTS (Hangul: 방탄소년단; RR: Bangtan Sonyeondan), also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a seven-member South Korean boy band formed by Big Hit Entertainment. The name subsequently became a backronym for Beyond The Scene. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BTS_(band)
8 posted on 10/11/2018 4:41:41 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You cannot invade the mainland US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

thanks, I don’t get out much anymore to dance to the boy bands...


9 posted on 10/11/2018 5:22:35 PM PDT by Chickensoup ( Leftists fascists today plan to commence to commit genocide against conservatives soon)
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To: Chickensoup

Having one leg cuts down on my time on the dance floor.


10 posted on 10/11/2018 5:24:15 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You cannot invade the mainland US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

hop hop hop

Bunny hop!

Hip-hop!


11 posted on 10/11/2018 5:32:39 PM PDT by Chickensoup ( Leftists fascists today plan to commence to commit genocide against conservatives soon)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Not to mention that there was a very HOT war on at the time.


12 posted on 10/12/2018 10:03:54 AM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again,")
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