Should K-pop go bang? South Korean stars BTS caught in conscription debate

Group has twice topped the US Billboard charts, yet must still serve in the military, unlike their classical colleagues

Do pop stars make good soldiers, or are their talents better put to use promoting Korean culture around the world?

This is a question dogging South Korea’s military leaders as they mull revising rules about who qualifies for an exemption from mandatory service. Currently nearly all men must serve for a minimum of 21 months, a measure seen as a deterrent against North Korean aggression. But medals in certain sporting events and top spots in international and domestic arts competitions serve as one of the very few ways out.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2MMrCdp

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