South Koreans are calling for members of popular K-pop band BTS to be granted alternatives or delays to mandatory military service. Lawmakers and fans argue they are doing plenty for their country without donning a soldier's uniform.
By law, all able-bodied men in South Korea aged between 18 and 28 must serve in the military for about two years, as part of the country's defence measures against North Korea.
The eldest member of the band, Jin, is 27 and will be required to sign up by the end of next year. The other six will reach the age of conscription over the next few years.
South Korea has previously granted exemptions for high-profile athletes such as Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min as well as classical musicians such as award-winning pianist Seong-Jin Cho, but there have been none for K-pop stars.
"Not everyone has to take up a rifle to serve the country," said Noh Woong-rae, a senior member of the ruling Democratic Party. His comments at party meeting on Monday received widespread media coverage.
Mr Noh said BTS members could instead work as ambassadors during their overseas travels to promote a group of islets at the centre of a territorial dispute with Japan.
His comments came after a proposal by fellow party member Jeon Yong-gi last month to revise the law so that some K-pop stars could delay military service until the age of 30.
"For the sake of the fairness, we are not talking about exempting them from their duty, but pop musicians and artists like BTS – their careers can blossom in their twenties," said Mr Jeon.
"We cannot let military duty block their way at the height of their careers."
The public appears to support special treatment for the band with a massive global fan base, which also became the first South Korean group to reach No 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
A recent survey by domestic news website Kuki News showed about one-third of respondents believed the band should be exempt from military service, while another one-third supported a postponement.
BTS's label, Big Hit Entertainment, declined to comment on the matter, while individual members of the band have previously said they are willing to complete military service.
"Military service is the natural duty and when duty calls, I will respond any time," said Jin in February.
Big Hit, which plans to go public on the stock market on October 15, has said in its IPO prospectus that military service is a key risk for investors.
That has not stopped investors jumping on the offering, however, with orders from retail investors totalling $50.3 billion won, about 607 times the value of shares on offer, lead arranger NH Investment & Securities said on Tuesday.
Scroll through the gallery below to see BTS through the years:
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BTS through the years: the K-pop band at the Korean Culture Convention (K-Con), held at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on August 10, 2014. AFP -
Members of BTS arrive on the red carpet for K-Con 2014. AFP -
BTS on the red carpet for the Asia Artist Awards in Seoul on November 16, 2016. AFP -
Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and JungKook of BTS at Music Choice in New York City on March 22, 2017. Getty -
BTS perform Fake Love at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 20, 2018. AP -
BTS accept the Top Social Artist award at the Billboard Music Awards on May 20, 2018. Reuters -
BTS attend the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2018. AP -
BTS perform during a Korean cultural event in Paris as part of the South Korean president's official visit to France on October 14, 2018. AFP -
BTS on the red carpet at the Mnet Asian Music Awards in Hong Kong on December 14, 2018. AP -
BTS at the Seoul Music Awards on January 15, 2019. Getty -
BTS present the award for Best R&B Album during the 61st Grammy Awards on February 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. AFP -
BTS perform on Saturday Night Live on April 11, 2019. Getty -
BTS before rehearsals for KBS 2TV's Music Bank in Yeouido, Seoul, on April 19, 2019. Getty -
BTS perform at concert to promote 18th Fina World Championships at a stadium in Gwangju, South Korea on April 28, 2019. EPA -
BTS and Halsey performing Boy With Luv at the Billboard Music Awards on May 1, 2019. Reuters -
BTS attend Youth Day at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul on September 19, 2020. Reuters -
BTS present a purple gift box to President Moon Jae-in during the inaugural Youth Day event in Seoul on September 19, 2020. EPA -
BTS on the red carpet during the annual Mama Awards at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya, Japan, on December 4, 2019. Reuters -
BTS at the 34st annual Golden Disk Awards ceremony in Seoul on January 4, 2020. EPA -
BTS arrive at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on January 26, 2020. AP -
BTS visit the Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on February 21, 2020. AFP -
BTS give an address as part of the YouTube Originals Dear Class of 2020 speeches. YouTube Originals -
BTS performing as part of the YouTube Originals Dear Class of 2020 speeches. YouTube Originals -
BTS perform 'Dynamite' during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2020. Reuters -
BTS accept the award for Best Pop Video for 'On' during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2020. AP -
BTS arrives to security check-in at the United Nations headquarters during the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 20, 2021. AFP -
V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS arrive at the 2021 American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California on November 21, 2021. Reuters -
BTS accepts the award for artist of the year at the American Music Awards in 2021 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. AP -
Jin, Suga, V, Jungkook, RM, Jimin, and J-Hope of BTS hold their award for the Favourite Pop Song, Favourite Duo or Group and Artist of the Year awards during the 2021 American Music Awards. Reuters -
BTS pose on red carpet of iHeartRadio Jingle Ball concert in California on December 3, 2021. Reuters -
BTS perform at Jamsil Olympic Park in southern Seoul, South Korea on March 10, 2022. EPA -
BTS pose on red carpet of 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 3, 2022. Reuters -
BTS perform Butter during 64th Annual Grammy Awards show in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 3, 2022. Reuters -
BTS Permission to Dance concert in Las Vegas on April 10, 2022. Photo: Big Hit Music -
Members of BTS join Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, centre, during a news conference at the White House in Washington DC on May 31, 2022. Photo: Oliver Contreras / Sipa / Bloomberg
