ENTERTAINMENT
Kai's 'Enlistment Mystery' 'A scapegoat for military discipline for evading military service?
On the 3rd, SM Entertainment announced through its fan platform, "Kai will enter the Army Training Center on the 11th, receive basic military training, and then begin alternative service as a social worker."
Kai was preparing for his group EXO's full-length activities this year. However, he was enlisted due to a change in the Military Manpower Administration's enlistment provisions and regulations. According to the current enlistment regulations, a total of five ‘enlistment postponements’ are possible. In two of these cases, enlistment may be postponed for 'other reasons' for the purpose of entertainment activities. In the remaining three cases, illness, employment, etc. must be the reason for delaying enlistment.
SM Entertainment announced Kai's enlistment as a "sudden change in regulations from the Military Manpower Administration." On the other hand, an official from the Military Manpower Administration responded, "The relevant regulations have been in effect since 2010," and "Kai's enlistment is not a sudden change in regulations."
The enlistment clause in question is a regulation, not a law. Because of this, ‘differences in interpretation’ arise. SM Entertainment is a veteran of dealing with the enlistment of its artists for about 30 years. The industry's view is that there is no way they were unaware of the regulations that have been in effect since 2010.
In the case of the Military Manpower Administration headquarters, only 2 out of 5 instances of postponement of enlistment due to entertainment activities are recognized. In the case of each local office, there has been a difference in interpretation because there is no legal enforcement. In other words, it was customary to allow up to five postponements of enlistment. What suddenly changed was not a regulation, but a ‘difference in interpretation.’
It is pointed out that the Military Manpower Administration's change in attitude is due to negative social perception of 'celebrity military service'. Recently, rapper Ravi was sentenced to two years in prison on the 11th of last month on charges of 'evading military service.' The charge is that he colluded with military service broker Koo and agency representative Kim to attempt to evade military service by submitting a false epilepsy diagnosis.
Accordingly, the Military Manpower Administration has set inflexible enlistment regulations for 28-year-old male celebrities scheduled to enlist. There was also criticism that Kai was the first person to show the Military Manpower Administration's will.
Despite the news of Kai's enlistment, EXO's comeback proceeds without any problems. Fans who expressed excitement at the group's first full-length promotion in five years are somewhat disappointed.
Reporter Junho Yoon, Ten Asia delo410@tenasia.co.kr
