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- BTS fans are standing behind the decision to allow the boy band to skip or delay mandatory military service in South Korea.
- According to South Korean law, all able-bodied men between 18 and 28 are expected to serve in the military.
- Some politicians have also come out in support of the band, acknowledging the contributions they have already made toward their country.
Fans of BTS are calling for the members of the group to be exempt from mandatory military service in South Korea.
According to the country's laws, all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 28 must serve in the military for around two years as part of its defences against North Korea, Sky News reports.
Some politicians have also come out in support of the 7-piece band, saying that they have already contributed a lot to their country and its economy.
"Not everyone has to take up a rifle to serve the country," Noh Woong-Rae, a senior member of the ruling Democratic Party, said, according to Sky News.
At 27, Jin is the oldest BTS member and would be required to sign up for military service at the end of 2021.
While South Korea has in the past granted exemptions to high profile sports stars and musicians, this has not happened for any K-Pop artists yet.
Rather than an exemption though, Democratic Party member Jeon Yong-gi has proposed a law that could instead delay the singers' service until the age of 30.
A survey conducted by Kuki News shows that 31.3 per cent of South Korean participants think BTS should not be required to serve in the military, while 28.6 per cent believe their service should be delayed, reports NME.
30.5 per cent of participants supported normal service for the band.
Meanwhile, BTS continues to grow their following internationally. Aside from breaking numerous YouTube records, they also became the first all-South Korean group to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with their track Dynamite.
BTS is also tied with Justin Bieber as the act with the second-highest nominations at this year's MTV EMAs.
Compiled by Nikita Coetzee (Sources: Sky News, NME, Forbes, Channel24)
