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在线翻译:
szdaily -> Speak Shenzhen -> 
South Korea considers military exemptions for boybands
    2018-09-10  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

They may be the pride of South Korea after topping America’s Billboard 200 chart last week for the second time with their new album “Love Yourself,” but K-pop boyband BTS could still be cut off in their prime because of mandatory military service.

All able-bodied South Korean men must serve for at least 21 months in the army.

However, the phenomenal global success of BTS, who have pulled off the rare feat of reaching No.1 in the U.S. album chart twice in one year, has reignited a debate about who should be exempt from conscription.

Currently elite medal-winning athletes and a select list of classical musicians and ballet dancers can escape the compulsory duty as they are deemed to be raising the national image on a global stage.

The South Korean men’s football team, including Son Heung-min, the Tottenham Hotspur forward, were granted a reprieve recently after winning gold at the Asian Games.

But music fans and politicians argue that the rules are out-of-touch with modern South Korean society and should be updated to benefit celebrities of contemporary pop culture.

“The general public, including young people, wonder what makes winning on the Billboard chart different from winning in other international competitions? Winning the former is likely to create bigger added value,” politician Ha Tae-kyung told the National Defence Committee in July, reported Yonhap.

“For example, Psy broke the world record with YouTube video hits, which is extremely difficult to achieve. It is the world’s No. 1 and has huge influence over people around the world,” he continued, referring to the musician who created the addictive dance “Gangnam Style” in 2012.

In response to public disquiet on the issue, Lee Nak-yon, the Prime Minister, instructed the Cabinet on Tuesday to look at reforming the system.

The timing of conscription can be career-breaking for pop idols. Historically, several entertainers have been accused of moving abroad, faking health conditions or even submitting tainted urine samples to medical examinations in order to avoid serving in the army.

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【免责】miǎnzé reprieve the prevention or suspension of a scheduled or expected punishment

【使人入迷的】shǐ rén rùmí de addictive so enjoyable that it makes you want to do it or have it a lot

上周,韩国流行男团防弹少年团凭借最新专辑《爱你自己》再度称霸美国公告牌专辑排行榜。他们或许是韩国的骄傲,但仍可能因为义务兵役制在演艺巅峰期中断演艺事业。

所有身体强健的韩国男性都必须服至少21个月兵役。

然而,韩国男团防弹少年团在全球大获成功,一年内两次登顶美国专辑排行榜,实属罕见。这也引发了关于哪些人可以免服兵役的激辩。

此事一经曝出,随即引发公平性争议。韩国总统府青瓦台国民请愿公告栏相继也出现了关于防弹少年团免服兵役的请愿帖。

按照韩国目前的兵役制度,杰出的获奖运动员、一些古典音乐家和芭蕾舞蹈家可以免服兵役,因为人们认为他们可以提升韩国的国际形象。

而就在不久前,韩国男足在亚运会夺冠后,全体队员也被免除了兵役,其中包括前锋孙兴慜,他效力于托特纳姆热刺足球俱乐部。

但音乐爱好者和政界人士认为,这些规定已经与现代韩国社会脱节,应予以改进,将现代流行文化行业的明星包括进去。

韩联社报道,政界人士Ha Tae-kyung7月份对国防委员会表示:“登顶美国专辑排行榜和在其他国际比赛中获胜有何不同?包括年轻人在内的民众对此都很费解。而且前者创造的附加值可能更大。”

他还说:“比如,鸟叔的音乐视频在YouTube上的播放量破了纪录,实属罕见。这也是拿到了世界第一,而且对全世界的人影响都很大。”2012年,鸟叔打造的神曲《江南style》风靡全球。

为回应公众热议,韩国国务总理李洛渊上周二指示内阁考虑改革这一制度。

服兵役的时间可能会打断流行偶像的事业发展。之前,有数名韩国演艺人士被指控移居他国、健康状况造假甚至在体检时提交造假尿样来逃避服役。 (Chinadaily.com.cn)

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