Connect with us

Music

BTS may still be able to perform during military enlistment, says South Korean defence minister

Published

1 year ago

on

BTS may still be able to perform even while carrying out their compulsory military service, South Korean defence minister Lee Jeong-seop has said.

At a National Defence Committee held by the South Korean National Assembly on Monday (August 1), Lee spoke about the defence ministry’s position on BTS’ military service terms.

“I believe BTS could enlist in the military, and still be given time to practice and perform overseas,” said Lee, as reported by News1.

“The Ministry of National Defence has reviewed [the issue of BTS’ enlistment] in consideration of maintaining fairness, equity, and military service resources, and they could be able to continue performing for national interests,” he said.

According to Reuters, the minister added: “As many people highly value [artists serving] in the military, that may help boost their popularity even more.”

Director Lee Ki-shik of the Military Manpower Association also reportedly stated that implementing additional exemptions for pop culture figures on top of the military’s existing provisions could “break the overall framework of military service exemption”.

His comment suggests it is unlikely the boyband will receive a full exemption from service, though provisions may be made for them to continue their promotional activities concurrently.

However, South Korean parliament is currently debating a bill that may allow for major pop culture figures like BTS to serve an “alternative” form of service as arts and cultural personnel.

In May, Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Hwang Hee called for the boyband’s exemption from South Korea’s mandatory military service, saying “It’s time to create a system for incorporating popular culture-art figures as art personnel.”

Under South Korea’s current Military Service act, all able-bodied Korean men are required to enlist for approximately two years of military service before the age of 28. A 2020 amendment allowed pop musicians who have received cultural merits from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to apply to defer their enlistment until the age of 30.

The BTS member in the spotlight amid the discussion around their military enlistment is Jin, who will be turning 30 in December 2022. Jin and their agency HYBE have yet to announce their plans regarding his military service.

BTS member J-Hope headlines Lollapalooza 2022. Credit: Barry Brecheisen/WireImage

Yesterday, BTS rapper J-Hope made history as the first South Korean artist to headline Lollapalooza. The idol closed out the final night of the Chicago music festival this year, performing a total of 18 songs across a 70-minute set, including eight of the 10 tracks from his recently-released debut solo album, ‘Jack In The Box’.

In a five-star review of the record, NME‘s Rhian Daly described it as “thought-provoking and full of fresh new flavour”, adding: “‘Jack In The Box’ takes the J-Hope the world has come to know and love over the last nine years and sets that figure alight. From the ashes, though, comes a star more thrilling and formidable than ever and seemingly unstoppable.”

BTS are currently taking a temporary break from group activities, with its members planning to “take time to explore some solo projects” in the meantime. During a recent livestream, leader RM hinted that he may be the next member to release a solo record, revealing that his upcoming project is “90 per cent” complete.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Music

Taylor Swift reportedly paid everyone’s bill to clear restaurant after attending Travis Kelce’s Chiefs game

Published

52 mins ago

on

September 26, 2023

By

Taylor Swift reportedly paid for everyone’s bill to clear a restaurant in Kansas City after attending Travis Kelce’s Chiefs football game.

  • READ MORE: Taylor Swift live in New Jersey: a glittering celebration of every era

Yesterday (September 24), Swift was spotted at the Kansas City Chiefs vs Chicago Bears game in Kansas City, sitting in a suite with Kelce’s mum Donna. After the game, which the Cheifs won 41-3, both Swift and Kelce were spotted driving in Kelce’s convertible.

Allegedly, the two went to a restaurant where Swift paid for everyone’s bill in exchange for them leaving the premises immediately. In a since-deleted TikTok video, a Swift fan claimed that Swift “paid for everyone at the restaurant so that they would leave”.

According to LBC, the video was captioned: “Holy s***, my friend just called me. Taylor paid for everyone’s meals, they had to leave. Not saying where. She is with Travis!”

“I just got a call from a friend and Taylor is going to a place, and she just paid for everybody at the restaurant so that they would leave,” said the fan in the TikTok video.

She continued: “They were eating and the waitress came up and said, ‘Here’s the deal, everything is paid for but you have to have to leave, like right now.’ How freaking insane is this! Oh and of course, she’s with Travis Kelce.”

The pop sensation has been linked to the Kansas City Chiefs tight end after Kelce candidly revealed that he had tried to shoot his shot at Swift by attending one of her ‘Eras’ tour shows with a friendship bracelet that included his phone number on it ready to hand it to her.

Kelce shared that the bracelet was never given to the pop star but he did send her a message telling her that the ball is in her court. Speaking to Pat Mcafee in an interview on The Pat McAfee Show, Kelce said: “I told her that I’ve seen her rock a stage in Arrowhead and she might have to come see me rock the stage at Arrowhead…We’ll see what happens in the near future.”

Fans of the ‘Anti-Hero’ singer have been going wild on the internet since her appearance at the American Football game. One X/Twitter user wrote that Swift and Kelce’s mum being spotted together was “not something I had on my 2023 bingo card”, while another user joked: “What are we doing when Travis Kelce pauses mid game, points to Taylor, and says ‘this one is for you, you know who you are. I love you’ and then proceeds to make a touchdown?”

Check out more fan reactions below:

In other Taylor Swift news, her fans recently hit back at Elon Musk‘s suggestion that the pop star should share her music directly onto X/Twitter.

Earlier this week, Musk – who bought the social media platform for $44billion last year – replied to a post from Swift in which she revealed the ‘From The Vault’ track titles for ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’.

“I recommend posting some music or concert videos directly on the X platform,” he wrote. Many Swifties have since hit out at the X owner over his idea regarding the star’s music, with one writing: “With all due respect Mr. Elon sir I think Miss Swift knows what she’s doing.”

Elsewhere, Swift recently urged her fans to take action at the forthcoming US elections, driving record-breaking numbers to the Vote.org website.

“I’ve been so lucky to see so many of you at my US shows recently. I’ve heard you raise your voices, and I know how powerful they are. Make sure you’re ready to use them in our elections this year!,” she posted on her social media.

Continue Reading

Music

New Order announce one-off Los Angeles show with Blossoms

Published

2 hours ago

on

September 26, 2023

By

New Order have announced a one-off show in Los Angeles, with Blossoms to support.

The band will be performing at the 6,000-capacity YouTube Theater in the city on November 15, which is a warm-up show ahead of the band’s appearance at Darker Waves Festival in Huntington Beach on November 18. New Order are co-headlining the festival alongside Tears For Fears.

The gig has been billed as part of the Darker Waves Sideshow series, with X, Drab Majesty and Provoker, OMD and Echo and the Bunnymen all playing headline gigs in California in the week leading up to the festival.

Tickets for New Order’s show with Blossoms go on sale on Friday (September 29) – you can buy yours here.

Earlier this month, the band  announced reissued editions of their classic compilation album ‘Substance 1987’.

Originally released via the legendary Factory Records, the record featured all of the Manchester band’s singles up to that point in their 12″ forms, as well as many of their respective B-sides.

‘Substance 1987’ also contained newly-recorded versions of the songs ‘Temptation’ and Confusion’. Other tracks that appeared as part of the collection included ‘Blue Monday’, ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’ and ‘Ceremony’.

Back in 2020, ‘Substance 1987′ returned to online streaming services after being removed five years prior.

Meanwhile, New Order are currently in the middle of their 2023 European and UK arena tour. See the full schedule below, and find any remaining tickets here.

SEPTEMBER
26 – Zénith, Paris
29 – The O2, London

OCTOBER
1 – 3Arena, Dublin
5 – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
7 – First Direct Arena, Leeds

Back in May, Peter Hook ran the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run in honour of The Smiths’ Andy Rourke, who died aged 59 after “a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer”.

Continue Reading

Music

Stevie Nicks announces 2024 North American headlining tour

Published

3 hours ago

on

September 25, 2023

By

Stevie Nicks has announced a handful of dates for her upcoming 2024 North American headlining tour.

The former Fleetwood Mac singer will be headed back on tour in February of next year for an eight-date headlining tour run. It follows the string of solo shows she did earlier this year as well as her current run of gigs that are set to end in December.

Kicking off on February 10 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, at Mark G Etess Arena, Nicks will make stops in New York, South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana and Nebraska. Her tour will wrap up on March 9 in Little Rock, Arkansas at the AT&T Stadium.

General sale for the 2024 North American tour will begin on Friday, September 29 at 10am local time. Visit here to purchase tickets.

Stevie Nicks 2024 North American tour dates are:

FEBRUARY
10 – Atlantic City, NJ, Mark G Etess Arena
14 – Belmont Park, NY, UBS Arena
21 – Greenville, SC, Bon Secours Wellness Arena
24 – Hollywood, FL, Hard Rock Live
28 – New Orleans, LA, Smoothie King Center

MARCH
3 – Omaha, NE, CHI Health Center
6 – North Little Rock, AR, Simmons Bank Arena
9 – Arlington, TX, AT&T Stadium

Nicks is currently on the road. Her next show will be on September 27 at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. From there, she will be making stops in New York, Tennessee, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and different cities in California.

Last month, Nicks shared her thoughts on Amazon Prime Video‘s Daisy Jones & The Six after watching it for the second time.

The singer took to social media to talk about the Prime Video series, sharing her thoughts on her recent rewatch. “Just finished watching [Daisy Jones & The Six] for the 2nd time. In the beginning, it wasn’t really my story, but Riley seamlessly, soon became my story.”

She continued: “It brought back memories that made me feel like a ghost watching my own story. It was very emotional for me. I just wish Christine [McVie] could have seen it. She would have loved it. Hopefully it will continue…”

Nicks also shared a statement about the wildfires that swept through Maui in August. The singer-songwriter posted a lengthy statement on her Instagram page expressing her sadness about the fires which have devastated the island and fears for her family

Continue Reading

Trending