#mandatory enlistment

[myobsessionsspace]

I know no one asked this but I just wanna say...

I came across some posts on Reddit with bunch of Korean males saying they're seeking ways to get citizenship overseas (and give up their Korean's) just to avoid conscription.

I feel like I have much more respect to BTS now.

LOOOOUUUDDDEEERRRR🗣️

Many countries, not just SK have it and many have had their loved ones have to complete theirs.

Some respect it, some don’t. Some think it’s admirable, some don’t.

They shouldn’t have to. They didn’t WANT to.

When they did want to, they kept getting pulled from pillar to post. One thing after another kept happening, different people needed and wanted them to stay active and wait with bated breath for decisions in THEIR lives to be made.

They took the little control they had back. They’re doing what must be done but not what they wanted to do.

Yet to Come in Busan. Where Jin announced his upcoming enlistment, starting off the seven. Rap line performing Cypher pt. 3 ‘Killer’. Their last concert as 7.

They’re singers, dancers, writers, rappers CREATIVES. This isn’t what they were built for, what they worked for, what they dreamed of.

But my lovely guess what…

IT’S NEARLY OVER😭

I’ve always respected them, I’m glad after this period is done others will catch up. The rest, oh well.

Bring on 2025!!

The best is yet to come!

Thank you lovely for sharing your thoughts, I love the little nuggets of thoughts people feel like sharing 😊

💜

[pocima]

I’d go ahead and tell Sodas to welcome me with open arms like right now but part of what’s holding me back is the fact that TAN ARE A PROJECT GROUP… A GROUP AS TALENTED AS THIS WITH SUCH BOMB MUSIC IS MOST LIKELY TEMPORARY… good god how does this fandom stay sane

[sunmisbf]

sunmisbf/sunmi divorce arc

[lesbiancarat]

my grandparents came to visit and I showed them the god of music mv bc I thought they'd appreciate the lyrics (I've showed them some svt stuff in the past too) and they were very impressed with all the special effects 🤣 my grandma double checked that the mv was on youtube and was like I'll have to think about people I can show this to!

[vampyretaemin]

my hope is that as all of the other nct guys start enlisting theyre going to be stuck with only the international members and will be forced to give wayv a world tour bc thats all they have left. it doesnt look like theyre gonna give them anything out of the goodness of their hearts so theyll have to be forced

[deus-ex-mona]

it sure has been quite a week

[seokljin]

heart broken into million pieces ;;-;;

[goawaywithjae]

All for one, and one for all...

[ggunight]

the way kpop fans talk abt military service in general.. on one hand it’s insane when they act like they’re being personally victimized by something that all male citizens of south korea are required to do. on the other hand some fandoms glorify military service as proof of their idols’ masculinity and superiority and mock any enlisting/enlisted idol for being anxious when let’s be real. young men in government mandated military service are basically guaranteed not to create a particularly healthy environment mentally or otherwise

[myobsessionsspace]

✨We Gon’ Be Alright✨

💜

[jedaos]

seeing male idols go back on a diet after coming out of the military glowing is my villain origin story btw

[softmoonlite]

love sehun dooownnn 😋🫶🏻 but he needs to shave his head already 😕

[lesbiancarat]

SEUNGCHEOL MILITARY EXCEMPTION????

yup looks like it. also not about you anon but want to take a minute to remind everyone to be sensitive when posting/talking about military enlistment. not to say you can't have positive feelings about him not having to enlist, but just keep in mind that military enlistment is a serious topic that affects real people that aren't all kpop idols

[banghwa]

going back to resolution of not answering asks who cant read and will resulting make muscle-straining reaches in assumptions about what you meant and your character bcs they dont have anything actually insightful to say

[super-oddity]

tannies’ first egg!!

[peppertaemint]

It’s weird for me to watch the reactions on my timeline, even adults are reacting like it’s a surprise and they need time to "process"… huh, okay… I mean, were people still hoping for an exemption at this point? I still had a bit of hope at the end of last year but since then it was quite clear that they couldn’t count on it. I’m actually quite happy right now that everything is settled and they have a clear plan. And them coming back in 2025 is a scenario I wasn’t even hoping for, it really is the best we could get in my opinion. I understand the younger fans being sad but when it comes to adults, I find it quite concerning to react the way some do. As much as I love the members and especially Jimin and Jungkook, my life does not revolve around them, I find it a bit sad to see that for so many people it seems like the band is most important thing in their lives :/

Hello Anon. Your Ask is from October 2022, but I think in light of certain things it might be interesting to answer it now.

Was it a bit jarring to see BTS fans unable to cope with the reality of military service? Yes, because I think most of us who got into K-pop after already being into K-media/culture weren't expecting an exemption. I also understand it must be surreal for some people who don't live in countries with mandatory service, or those who don't know others who have done mandatory service. Both Pakistan and Israel have mandatory service, so it's not necessarily out of the ordinary for some of us (and especially for those who pay attention to K-media).

I do think the idea of the exemption is something the fans will stay bitter about for a long time (forever?) judging by tweets and other posts I keep seeing. Not having an exemption is a hit to the whole brand image of exceptionalism/not K-pop. Only the plebeian K-pop stars have to go for service, not the venerable BTS. That ... will always be offensive to me, as a BTS fan and a K-pop fan.

Now that it's happening (Jin has enlisted), the usual crud has started and will continue forever more. I don't like people using service as a "gotcha" and making cruel comments while someone is serving their country. Yes, BTS fans do this about everyone else who serves, but that doesn't mean other fans need to return the favor. Like, have some decency. Jin looks healthy and quite good in the photos that were released, so can't we all respect him for doing his duty, regardless of opinions on the political war machine or selfish fan war egotism? I'm definitely a pacifist, but my being a pacifist does nothing for people who live in countries with mandatory service.

The other thing is that with the news of Hongseok's (Pentagon) medical discharge, I really hope that everyone can reflect on their behavior, and that does include SHINee fans. I didn't see it myself, but I saw shawols chastizing others for their reactions (gotta love shawol behavior standards, lol). Mental health isn't a competition, nor is military service on the whole. Not being able to complete your service as intended, whether that be full discharge or changing the type of service, would be incredibly difficult for the person involved. Shame, guilt, embarrassment, humiliation - enlisting would have been hard enough; not finishing as intended is not what anyone would want. Let's keep positive thoughts for all involved.