BTS K-pop band members must do military service, South Korea says
(The Guardian South Korea)

Country´s football stars have been exempted but culture ministry says first member of group must enlist next year They may be South Korea´s most successful cultural export and the first K-pop act to top the US album sales charts, but BTS must still perform military service, the government has said, defying calls from the band´s fans for their idols to be granted an exemption.Almost all able-bodied South Korean men must start almost two years of military service by the time they are 28, although exceptions are made for classical musicians and athletes who win international competitions. Related: K-pop under scrutiny over `toxic fandom` after death of Sulli Continue reading...