It was filed by the Korea Music Content Association on behalf of its members reports NME
The Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) has filed an official complaint to the Ministry Of National Defense over a revised military deferment law set to take effect from June 23, 2021
The KMCA has allegedly filed the objection on behalf of 26 of its 27 member agencies, including South Korea’s “Big Three” agencies: SM, JYP, and YG entertainment, as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily. A number of other well-known agencies who are part of the association are also involved in the complaint.
The amendment, which passed last year, allows pop musicians who have received cultural merits from the Ministry Of Culture, Sports and Tourism to defer their enlistment until the age of 30. It had been put forward by Rep. Jeun Young-gi, who cited the global success of BTS.
In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required to enlist by the age of 28. Currently, special exemptions are granted to athletes, actors, directors and classical musicians who have made a significant international impact.
Typically, only musicians who have been active for at least 15 years can be awarded cultural merits. Citing this in its complaint, the KMCA called the amendment “unrealistic and unfair”, saying it is near-impossible for K-pop musicians to qualify before the age of 28.
“If a male musician would want to meet the criteria before he turns 28, he has to begin his K-pop career when he’s 13 years old at the latest,” said a KMCA official. “And that doesn’t even mean that they can defer their services. That’s only the requirement to apply for the merit. There’s a separate set of standards to see whether they actually get the chance to defer their services.”
Read more at. https://www.nme.com/news/music/deferment-law-kpop-idols-complaint-bts-kmca-2917305
