Last year's scandal involving celebrity recruits officially ended the celebrity recruit status given to k-drama actors and k-pop stars serving in the military. But recent news left some netizens wondering if anything had really changed. That news concerned a performance in China at which actor Song Joong Ki would serve as emcee.
While all South Korean males between the ages of 18 and 35 must serve two years of compulsory military duty, before last year celebrities often enjoyed special privileges while serving in a division known as the Defense Media Agency. Some recruits' duties were limited to performing and public relations. At the same time they enjoyed privileges such as more time off base and special living conditions.
After complaints that celebrities were abusing their status, a documentary crew went undercover to investigate. They found that celebrities flaunted the rules in several ways including wearing civilian clothes while on duty, carrying cell phones and being off base for indefinite amounts of time. The documentary crew caught singer Se7en and Mighty Mouth's Sangchu at an adult massage parlor.
Citizens were outraged about the lack of military discipline being applied to celebrities. As a result, last August the celebrity recruit status was abolished. All singers and actors who joined after that were supposed to be assigned to active duty. The celebrities that still served, including Se7en and Sangchu, were switched to active duty.
However, netizens recently learned that this week the National Forces' Culture and Arts Performance Group is having a concert at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing. Several celebrity soldiers were assigned. Private First Class Song Joong Ki was asked to serve as the show's emcee. Song Joong Ki, who starred in the dramas "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" and "Nice Guy" plus the films "A Frozen Flower" and "A Werewolf Boy," has so far been a model recruit. After doing well in basic training, he was assigned to the 22nd Division search battalion. It is not known whether he will return to the search battalion after his emcee duties end. He finishes his military service in May 2015.
Corporal Lee Suk Hoon of SG Wannabe and Sergeant Kim Ho Kyung, also known as the singer Tei, were asked to perform at the concert.
Military officials have claimed that the celebrities' participation is not a problem and that these soldiers' special skills are being employed for the greater good. The celebrity soldiers will not be granted any special privileges.
What do you think of this controversy? Does it matter whether celebrity recruits perform as long as they don't earn special privileges or should all recruits perform the same duties?
