South Korea implements obligatory conscription for all able-bodied males between the ages of 18-28 to carry out 18 months of army service. Whereas the rule applies to all common South Korean residents, it doesn’t exempt Korean celebrities from this rule.
Conscription has at all times been a subject of controversy, particularly amongst Korean celebrities who must take a break from the general public eye to finish their army service. For a lot of Korean celebrities, this could possibly be nothing lower than profession suicide, as they must quit their profitable jobs of their prime to enroll. Moreover, they’re often unable to realize their pre-record period fame as soon as they return.
Because of this, Korean celebrities and their companies have sought to request exemptions in some kind or search various providers to guard the artists’ reputation. A brand new legislation for a two-year postponement the chance arose for BTS for his or her excellent contribution to South Korean tradition within the world market. Nonetheless, BTS selected to not take the federal government up on that supply, they usually have all of it chosen to serve their obligatory army service, with their largest member Jin enlisting in December 2022.
Many corporations have been supported Exclusion of BTS as an entry level in altering the legislation for Ok-pop idols concerning exemptions. In 2018, high-ranking officers from numerous main corporations comparable to SM Leisure, YG Leisure, JYP Leisure and others met with the Korea Administration Affiliation to debate the registration interval and potential various providers for Korean celebrities. that are acknowledged cultural property.
BTS or their company, HYBE, didn’t attend the assembly. Nonetheless, she was pursued by Jellyfish Leisure, her former company VIXX’s Ravi, who’s at present underneath hearth for making an attempt to evade army registration and has been convicted of those costs. Together with him, Mr. Gu, a recognized intermediary for Korean celebrities to evade registration, was additionally caught.
Draft Dodgers: Korean celebrities who tried to keep away from army service
1) Steve Yoo
One of the crucial well-known instances of draft dodging in South Korean historical past must be that of Steve Yoo, a Ok-pop idol who renounced his Korean citizenship in trade for American citizenship to keep away from army service.
This was adopted by an enormous outcry from netizens after Yoo had beforehand acknowledged that he would finish his obligatory conscription. Nonetheless, because the date approached, he selected to take excessive measures to make sure his registration was cancelled.
The incident brought about his reputation to say no in South Korea. As well as, this was adopted by his expulsion from his homeland, as the federal government took his actions as a type of desertion and treason.
2) MC Mong
In 2010, MC Mong was accused of intentionally attempting to keep away from obligatory army service. After that, he was investigated by the South Korean Army Manpower Administration for a similar.
He was accused of getting his enamel extracted on goal to keep away from army service. Dental points, together with braces, implants or cavities, are a number of the causes army service will be postponed or waived.
Though he was acquitted of extracting wholesome enamel to keep away from conscription, he was jailed for six months for making an attempt to intentionally delay his enlistment. Regardless of being again within the leisure business, his public picture has not improved as folks proceed to be suspicious of his actions.
3) Music Seung-heon
Mannequin and actor Music Seung-heon got here underneath hearth in 2004 when it was revealed that he tried to keep away from army service by submitting contaminated urine samples to indicate that he was unfit for army service as he suffered from diabetes.
Because the scandal grew larger, Seung-heon instantly enlisted within the military to keep away from additional criticism. He was discharged in 2006 and stored a low profile for 2 years earlier than returning in 2008 with the drama East of Eden.
4) Kim Mu-yeol
Actor Kim Mu-yeol got here underneath the general public eye when his final name to enlist got here in 2009, however he requested for it to be postponed as a result of a knee damage he had suffered. The general public was outraged after Kim had postponed his army service since 2007 for numerous causes, comparable to taking civil service exams or enrolling in a job coaching facility, however none of those claims have been discovered to be true.
140708 Kim Muyeol was quietly launched from the military right this moment, he spoke a bit to the media. He was in the identical unit as Teuk http://t.co/uqfrK5rm35
Nonetheless, he was granted an exemption in 2010 as a result of his low-income background and being the only supplier for his household. The Korean Audit and Inspection Board argued that his earnings was above the poverty line as a result of his fame as an actor and that disqualification shouldn’t be imposed in his case.
In 2012 his public picture suffered lots of injury. After that, the actor determined to enter the military to regain his misplaced repute, whereas claiming that he had by no means lied or tried to illegally keep away from enlistment.
Whereas some Korean celebrities attempt to keep away from being drafted, many Korean celebrities who’ve been concerned in scandals as civilians attempt to be part of the army to flee the results of the scandal. That is additionally completed to make sure that they’ll enhance their public picture by serving the nation, as will be seen within the case of BIGBANG’s Seungri.
