BTS Jin, your determination to join the army…Rather than being pushed away, “choice and decision.”
Jin, the eldest brother of the group BTS, has begun preparing to join the military.
His agency Big Hit Music announced on the 17th that “Jin will apply for the cancellation of the postponement of his enlistment at the end of this month and follow the enlistment process of the Military Manpower Administration later,” adding, “Other members will also perform their military service sequentially according to their plans.”
Jin was born in 1992 and is 30 years old this year. Under the revised Military Service Act in 2020, the enlistment has been postponed until the end of this year after being recommended by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The current Military Service Act stipulates that a person with special skills in the arts and sports field prescribed by Presidential Decree and recommended by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism can be incorporated into art and sports personnel.
However, the Enforcement Decree of the Military Service Act does not include “popular culture” as a specialty in the arts and sports fields, raising the issue of equity for popular cultural artists who promote national prestige.
As the BTS withdrew its “postponement of enlistment until the age of 30” on its own, Jin is expected to enlist in active service as soon as the notice of enlistment is issued. Depending on the time of issuance of the notice of enlistment, it is also possible that he will wear military uniforms as early as this year.
BTS mentioned that it was the “last concert” during the 2030 Busan World Expo held in Busan on the 15th. Earlier in June, he announced his solo-oriented music rather than group activities, and this process was based on his military duty.
Jin’s enlistment date was not set in detail. However, he is expected to join the military after the release of his new song as he is about to make his second solo debut after J-Hope.
The background of the BTS’s announcement of enlistment can be seen as a solution for the group’s long run. Under the current regulations, even though the postponement of enlistment was guaranteed by the end of this year, the withdrawal of itself can be seen as emphasizing the “choice and decision” of individual members rather than “pushed enlistment.” 강남풀싸롱
Regarding the enlistment, the BTS has been in a position that “I will go on my own when the time comes.” However, opinions on the introduction of alternative service for BTSs have come to the surface in the popular culture community, and political circles have reportedly amplified the pros and cons, causing heartache for others.
Last month, 60.9% of the respondents said they approved the revision of the Military Service Act, which included pop culture and arts artists who contributed to promoting national prestige such as BTS as art and sports agents, overwhelmed 34.3% of the respondents. As a result, there were fierce pros and cons among lawmakers over the introduction of an alternative service system for them during the parliamentary inspection of the National Defense Commission, including the Military Manpower Administration on the 7th of this month.
Meanwhile, after Jin joined the military, RM, J-Hope, Jimin, V, Jungkook, and Suga also plan to fill the vacancy of the members with their own album work and individual activities.