[2026 Asian Games] BTS Military Service Re-examined… Controversy Over Equity with Asian Games Gold Medals Ignites Again

The military service fulfillment of the group BTS is drawing attention again. As the Korean soccer and baseball national teams won gold medals at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, discussions surrounding the military service exemption standards applied to athletes and pop culture artists have resurfaced.

BTS has expanded the influence of K-pop by achieving global achievements, such as reaching the top of the US Billboard main single chart 'Hot 100'. They are evaluated to have contributed to increasing interest in Korean popular culture abroad and raising national recognition. However, the members of BTS did not qualify for military service exemptions.

The eldest member, Jin, enlisted first in December 2022, and j-hope, RM, V, Jimin, and Jung Kook also completed their active duty service in turn. With SUGA, who served as a social service agent, also being discharged last June, all seven members have fulfilled their military service obligations.

This controversy coincided with the Asian Games results. The Korean baseball national team defeated Japan on the 27th of last month to achieve their fifth consecutive Asian Games title, and the soccer national team won the final against Japan on the 3rd to claim their fourth consecutive gold medal. Among the athletes who won gold medals, those who had not completed their military service became eligible for military service exemptions according to relevant regulations.

However, controversy arose as some players on the soccer national team made remarks emphasizing military service benefits after winning gold medals or posted photos on SNS wearing discharge caps. The players in question subsequently apologized, stating that their words and actions were rash. In this process, the issue of equity in military service exemptions between athletes and pop culture artists was raised again. BTS was also mentioned in political circles. Na Kyung-won of the People Power Party pointed out via SNS on the 4th that even BTS, who significantly enhanced national prestige on the world stage, fulfilled their military service, arguing that it is difficult to persuade the public based solely on the justification of enhancing national prestige. She further stated the position that the military service exemption system itself should be reviewed rather than the words and actions of specific athletes. According to the current Military Service Act, those who place 3rd or higher in the Olympics or 1st in the Asian Games are eligible to be incorporated as artistic/sports personnel. In the field of arts, winners of international or domestic art competitions determined by the Military Manpower Administration are included in the eligibility. On the other hand, pop culture artists do not receive the same military service exemption standards even if they achieve results on global music charts. However, for pop culture artists who have received the Order of Cultural Merit or the Service Medal of Cultural Merit and meet certain requirements, a system is in place that allows them to postpone enlistment until the age of 30. Incorporation as artistic or sports personnel does not mean the military service obligation completely disappears; rather, the obligation is fulfilled by undergoing basic military training and a set period of mandatory service while continuing to work in the respective field.

Translated from the Korean original with AI. The Korean article was itself written with AI assistance. Read the original (Korean)