SEOUL – In about a month, five members of BTS (Suga, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook) will complete their military service. Members Jin and J-Hope began theirs earlier and returned to civilian life in 2024. BTS Army are excited about the reunion of all seven members and regularly post countdown trackers. I think we are at D-43, but don’t quote me on that.

Their impending return reminded me of an interview I had with a major international non-Korean media outlet just before BTS entered the military. The reporter asked whether BTS members would be seen as more masculine after completing their military service. He also thought it was ironic that BTS fans were named “Army.”

Most people in the West are unaware of conscription laws in South Korea. I explained that all able-bodied Korean men, with very few exceptions, will eventually enlist or have already served in the military. Thus, BTS’s military service is not exceptional — in fact, it makes them seem more ordinary. I argued that this is precisely why they would not be exempt from it, nor viewed as more masculine by Koreans. I also explained to the reporter that “Army” was a name that had to do with their Korean name Bangtan Sonyeondan or Bulletproof Boy Scouts, not with their future military service.

The undercurrent of the original question was that, to many casual observers in the West, K-pop male idols are viewed as more feminine than their Western counterparts. BTS have been subject to vile homophobic, racist and sexist remarks. For example, in 2018, Mexican TV talk show host Horacio Villalobos commented, “It doesn’t matter if they wear Gucci clothes. This collection is a fail. … They look like an LGBT group.” He then said, “They are all men? They look like they would work at a gay club.” Later, he offered a conditional apology stating that he did not mean to offend the members or their fans.

Of course, these remarks about BTS do not come only from outside of Korea, but also from within. In the infamous 2013 clip, rapper B-Free and others on a radio show accused BTS (RM and Suga in particular) of not remaining true to their hip-hop roots by becoming idols. He stated, “Hip-hop is a somewhat manly and macho culture. … When Bangtan (BTS) goes on stage and gets their makeup done, isn’t that in conflict with hip-hop?” He and the other hosts later accused Suga and RM, who were present during the interview, of not being able to endure the hardships that all true hip-hop artists experience. He added, “For me, it’s that mindset. You guys were on the same path as us, but you couldn’t overcome that temptation.” In 2019, B-Free issued a formal apology, but many fans felt it was too little, too late.

These comments suggest a view of masculinity that is defined in opposition to femininity: designer clothes and makeup. In addition, men are supposed to be macho and able to endure tough times. Of course, men are cast as superior to women, thus, masculinity is more desirable than femininity.

Still, this begs the question of whether military service will somehow enhance the perceived masculinity of BTS. Traditional masculinity is associated with physical attributes such as being tall and muscular, emotional and behavioral characteristics such as stoicism, domination, toughness, aggressiveness and so forth. We’ll set aside the discussion of whether these traits are compatible with a progressive view of masculinity for another time.

Members Jin and J-Hope have already completed their military service and were interviewed about their time in the military. In a recent Billboard magazine article, J-Hope shared, “I thought it (the military) was a very important part of J-Hope’s or Jung Ho-seok’s life. After all, I am a proud citizen of South Korea. I love my country. … Even though I was in the service, I think there was a part of me who never really let go of my love for music.” In a 2024 Weverse Magazine interview, Jin talked about the fact that he was popular in the military because, “I spent my military pay and then some buying food for everybody. (laughs) A lot of them were just turning 19 and never even had a job before, but I’m a lot more financially stable, so I’d say, “You gotta eat well to stay healthy. Come on, I’ll treat you.”

Clearly, Jin and J-Hope did not stress the development of traits traditionally associated with masculinity, but instead spoke of their personal growth and kindness toward others. J-Hope made it clear that he was back to being an idol.

Will BTS be seen as more masculine upon their return from the military? Asian and Asian American men are perceived as less masculine in the West, and along with the clothes, hair, makeup and flawless appearance required of male K-pop idols including BTS, Western media commentators will continue to question their masculinity.

Some fans may disagree with me. V recently posted Instagram photos of his muscular physique, and many Army were thrilled. Still, I don’t think Army cares about BTS’ perceived masculinity one way or another. Fans just want to see them reunited so they can sing “bogo shipda” from “Spring Day” with them.

Grace Kao is an IBM professor of sociology and professor of ethnicity, race and migration at Yale University. The views expressed here are the writer’s own. — Ed.

Asia News Network/The Korea Herald