73% of Koreans in their 20s Vote For BTS’ Enlistment (2022) Images: @bts.bighitofficial (IG), @bts_bighit (TWT), @BTS_twt (TWT), @weareone.exo (IG)

Following a brief consideration by the government of South Korea to let the public decide whether global K-Pop group BTS members need to enlist in their mandatory military service, an independent service held a poll that gave surprising results.

According to the law of South Korea, all able-bodied men have to complete a period of mandatory military service.

Idols currently enlisted include SHINee’s Taemin, EXO’s Chanyeol and Baekhyun, PENTAGON’s HUI and Hongseok, VICTON’s Han Seung-woo, MONSTAX’s SHOWNU, all the members of ONF, SF9’s Inseong and Youngbin, ASTRO’s MJ, and Golden Child’s Lee Daeyeol, among others.

Due to the success of K-Pop powerhouse BTS, the issue of the group’s enlistment has been a hot topic among fans, their company, and the government who have been publically debating the issue for several years.

If the BTS members are exempted from their service, they will be the first seven K-Pop idols to avoid their manditory military service. The members have not made any personal statement regarding the issue.

Since BTS’ oldest member Jin is turning 32 at the end of the year, the government briefly considered solving the issue with a nationwide poll. It should be noted that they quickly decided against making the decision based on a public poll.

However, soon after the government’s consideration of the poll, independent data service Cho Won C&I held a massive poll that asked people of all ages, genders, cities of Korea, and political alightments their opinions on the issue.

According to the results 73.2% of Koreans in their 20s belive that the members of the K-Pop group “must fulfill their duties.”

The report also held that among those in their 30s, 60.4% believed group should enlist. Finally, among those in their 40s, 49.4% voted for enlistment and 48.3% of people in their 50s agreed.

“The BTS (military service) issue will be decided prudently by synthesizing the opinions of several lawmakers and considering the national interest from various dimensions, but we will make a decision as soon as possible.” Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop At the National Assembly Defense Committee (Quote from Maeil Economic Daily, Translated by Google)

What do you think of the BTS Enlistment issue? Do you think they should serve as all K-Pop idols have until now? Or do think the advantages of the group continuing to promote outweigh their contributions as soldiers?