S.Korea changes law to let k-pop stars postpone military service

[INNA 3,721]

55 minutes ago, Popo said:

For South Korea it's seen as a service to the country and BTS has done so much for helping South Korea spread it's influence and project their soft power. They're serving the national goals of the government more effectively by releasing albums and making music rather than in an administrative post for a few years. It's more justifiable to allow people who are contributing effectively to continue to do so and not abruptly yank them while they are in their prime.

But it has been a long time since the USA actually conscripted anyone. Unlike in South Korea where being born male means you are destined for almost 2 years of service, to people like me who have gone through conscription it's just another fact of life that we have to deal with and it's a necessary evil.

Thank you for breaking that down for me, am ignorant. I can see the function it serves, I think. What was your training like, if you don’t mind me asking?

[Dadru 2,379]

Kinda sad for all the other idols, like Chen (EXO), that just enlisted.

[bionic 50,107]

KPOP stars are now officially government slaves. 

"Don't do as we say? Enjoy your military service"

"Don't promote x cause/point of view? Enjoy your military service"

This is not a victory

[Sneaky Oliver 22,221]

28? I thought they were like 16 

[LG2008 5,317]

I don't know if it's a win... Can't they manipulate the labels to do what they want? And if they don't, well... do your military service? 

[yes and 4,884]

I don't think they will actually ever go there. They may buy the American/Japanese or whatever citizenship and don't have to do that 

[FfFfFfFF 56,090]

They should rather abolish mandatory military service for everybody. That doesn't treat any group more favorably and doesn't coerce people into doing something they may not want to. 

[Popo 3,781]

On 12/2/2020 at 3:12 PM, good said:

Thank you for breaking that down for me, am ignorant. I can see the function it serves, I think. What was your training like, if you don’t mind me asking?

I mean, everyone goes through boot camp and it's literally hell where you have no rights or say. Even the stray cat and dog that wanders into the camp has more rights because they're able to hop and rest on benches or trod around on the grass patch. Having to bunk with up to 15 other people is also an experience because you get all sorts of weird characters. It's a horrible environment of toxic masculinity where you'd rather faint physical exertion than report that you have some kind of invisible illness because you'd be ridiculed for malingering. After that 2-4 months of boot camp you're assigned a vocation and he subsequent training is lighter or even worse.

 

But it does serve as the great equaliser for the most part, you are thrown into the same shithole with people from very diverse backgrounds, from different races and socio-economic background and you do form a sense of camaraderie with one another. 

[TimisaMonster 31,073]

Disgusting that its that or prison...

[Regina George 59,387]

Imagine forcing people to do something they don’t want to just because you can. Mandatory military service should be forbidden forever. 

[ToxicHot 6,444]

On 12/2/2020 at 7:57 AM, Sour Candy said:

I don't think they will actually ever go there. They may buy the American/Japanese or whatever citizenship and don't have to do that 

This! It seems practical.

[RRR 3,996]

They're still making him do it, they're just using him to increase their cultural influence worldwide