The entertainment industry was confused by the sudden news of EXO Kai's enlistment. This is because the Military Manpower Administration has different interpretations of the requirements for enlistment regulations. This is especially true for idols who are about to join the military this year. As the timing of EXO's Sehun and iKON member Kim Jinhwan's enlistment became unclear, the agencies were also on alert. As the schedule of idols who are scheduled to join the military next year changes rapidly, the shock of the military service in the industry is expected to continue.
On the 3rd, SM Entertainment said on its fan platform, "Kai will enter the Army Training Center on the 11th and undergo basic military training before serving as a public service worker."
Kai was preparing for his group EXO's full-length activities this year. However, due to the change in the provisions of the Military Manpower Administration's enlistment clause, he joined the military. Under the current enlistment regulations, a total of five "postponement of enlistment" is possible. Two of these are "other reasons," and enlistment can be postponed for entertainment purposes. In the remaining three reasons, diseases and employment should be the reasons for postponing enlistment.
SM Entertainment announced that Kai's enlistment was a "sudden change in regulations by the Military Manpower Administration." On the other hand, an official from the Military Manpower Administration said, "The regulations have been applied since 2010," adding, "Kai's enlistment is not a sudden change in regulations."
In the case of the headquarters of the Military Manpower Administration, only two out of five times are recognized for postponement of enlistment by entertainment activities. In the case of each local office, the reason doesn't matter, so there has been a difference in interpretation. In other words, it was customary to admit postponement of enlistment up to five times. According to the industry's argument, it is not the regulation that suddenly changed, but the 'difference in interpretation'.
In line with the news of Kai's enlistment, attention was also focused on the military service of male idols of the same age (born in 1994). Representatively, Sehun, a group member like Kai, and Kim Jinhwan, a member of iKON, are about to serve in the military.
Sehun was born in April 1994, and he has more time to enlist than Kai. However, if the Military Manpower Administration applies the same requirements to Sehun, the timing of enlistment could be accelerated. They say that there could be a case of "sudden enlistment" like Kai this year.
The same is true of Kim Jinhwan. Kim Jinhwan was born in February 1994, and if he cannot postpone his enlistment, he should join the army as soon as possible. The agency 143 Entertainment said, "We have been discussing with the Military Manpower Administration regarding the postponement of enlistment," adding, "We are urgently checking whether the situation has changed (after the news of Kai's enlistment)."
The Military Manpower Administration will apply the same standard to idols born in 1994 who are about to serve in the military. An official from the Military Manpower Administration said, "In principle, it is in accordance with the existing regulations," adding, "We will continue to take measures in accordance with the regulations in the future." The industry predicts that the mid- to long-term plans of each agency should be changed due to the change in interpretation of the Military Manpower Administration.
Koreans reacted saying:
- So the Military Manpower Administration's regulations have changed
- - No, the Military Manpower Administration's regulations have remained the same since 2010
- But It has been flexibly applied under the order officer in charge of the local military service
- It looks like Ravi caused a big issue
- Ravi did a great job...
- But aren't you just going because you're old enough to go? I think it's time to enlist because it's delayed enough, but I don't know if he should have gone before then, but I don't know if it's possible for ordinary people to postpone it like that
- But to say it suddenly, I heard that the notice of enlistment goes to the individual before joining the army? The fact that the agency or individual didn't know... I think it's a bit of a question
- They should have followed the rules
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