"BTS military service exception", put on hold without conclusion by the Defense Commission ... "Considering the public opinion of sensitive people, further discussion is necessary"

While it has been argued that singers who have raised national prestige like the boy group "BTS" should also be able to benefit from the "military service exception", the Diet has started a full-scale debate over the case. .. However, no conclusion was reached today (25th).
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On the morning of the 25th, a "partial amendment to the Military Service Law" was discussed at a subcommittee meeting of the Defense Committee, which was based on the content of including popular culture artists such as "BTS" as targets for the transfer of arts and physical education personnel. It was the first time for BTS to be examined to see if it would benefit from military service exemption.

The Defense Commission held a bill review subcommittee on the matter on the 25th, but did not reach a conclusion.

According to the people concerned, the pros and cons are divided regardless of the ruling and opposition parties, and in the future we will proceed with procedures such as holding public hearings.

Some members argued that it is appropriate to give "special opportunities for military service" in consideration of the enormous economic spillover effect induced by "BTS". The current special military service system, which allows alternative services only to winners of specific art competitions in Japan and overseas and medalists of the Olympic and Asian Games, has been discussed as "unfair."

However, it was not passed because the majority of the opinions were that "further discussion is needed" in consideration of public opinion that is sensitive to military service.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (the department is equivalent to a ministry) said in a regular briefing, "In principle, the expansion of arts and physical education personnel needs to be cautious in terms of fair military service performance." Speaking of the Ministry of Defense's position, we cannot help but consider the variables of the situation. The imminent one seems to be most due to the rapid population decline (leading to a decline in military resources). We also need a consensus. "