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Why was Taecyeon's military service a big deal? 2PM star’s enlistment praised again

'Taecyeon is a legend while everyone's trying to escape that man gave up on his US citizenship to join military,' said one fan

With BTS currently being one of the biggest K-pop groups in the world, their mandatory military service is the talk of the town. All healthy South Korean males have to enlist by the age of 30 and BTS themselves have shared that they would enlist when the time arises. While the maximum age limit was 28-years-old, it was pushed to 30 in 2020 after BTS saw global fame. And now the Culture Ministry is proposing an exemption since the group has been an asset in the country’s cultural and economic growth while the Defense Ministry has been meeting since November 2021 to discuss the possibility. 

While there is a debate about BTS going on among the general public, 2PM’s Taecyeon and his military service have been brought up. While his fans had praised him and made it a big deal back when he enlisted, the news is again gaining traction as many are finding out that the K-pop idol was actually American. Only South Korean citizens are drafted which means that idols who are of other ethnicities or have citizenship of other countries are automatically exempted like Thai 2PM member Nichkhun. So, with Taecyeon who is of Korean ethnicity enlisting, many assumed he was also South Korean.

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Taecyeon gave up US citizenship for military service

While Taecyeon was born in South Korea, he moved to USA at a young age and was brought up there. It was then revealed that the 2PM star had permanent US citizenship which means that he was exempt from serving in the South Korean military. On top of that, he had a slipped disc and had gone through two surgeries in the 2010s. Idols who are not eligible due to health reasons have often served in alternate service as a social worker or have been discharged earlier or exempted.

However, Taecyeon gave up his American citizenship and retook several physical exams after his surgeries till he was fit to enlist in the South Korean military. The 2PM member enlisted as an active soldier in 2017 and was often praised by the government as an outstanding citizen with him even being promoted to a sergeant before he was discharged in 2019. With Taecyeon’s situation circulating again with the general public being impressed, 2PM fans are praising him and his dedication to his native country.

‘The amount of respect I have’

One fan tweeted, “What we are not going to do is compare. That wouldn’t be fair, honestly. Taecyeon gave up his US residency and having back surgery specifically to enlist. There is NO ONE like “Captain Korea” Ok Taecyeon.” Another fan shared, “Anyways taecyeon supremacy.” One joked, “Honestly taecyeon is the type that might have gone military in the us if he hadn’t gone to be an idol.” Another added, “Obviously serving was very important to him. He went out of his way to ensure he could do just that. Not everyone feels that way about the military. So there’s truly nothing to compare. I’m from a multi generational military family and I’d never serve.”

One fan shared, “Shyshyshy....!!!!!!! taecyeon only 2 years in military he became so shy xD SUPER DUPER CUTE. i thought he was very amazing giving up his US citizenship to serve in military!! GO CAPTAIN KOREA i luv u.” Even non-fans had been impressed, “But fr the amount of respect i have for 2pm’s Taecyeon…… He didn’t have to go the the army but he did and the fact that he had to give up his permanent US resident to serve in the military…. damn talk about a man with morals.”

Another had commented, “So i just found out that taecyeon actually gave up his US permanent residency so that he could voluntarily enlisted in the military as one of the ways to repay all the loves he received when in south korea😲 i mean he didnt have to but he still insisted. Thats really cool of him.” One added, “Taecyeon is legend while everyone trying to escape that man gave up on his US citizenship to join military.”

One user shared their opinion on why Knetizens were bringing up other idols and enlisting and were against BTS’ exemption, “Why doesn't the Korean population…want BTS get exempted…because of intent. BTS didn't do KPop to give glory for South Korea. It was a secondary effect that happened from their main intent which was to become celebrities [artists]…Obviously their PR is now trying to capitalize this as BTS' main goal but the GP don't buy that excuse. Olympians/Classical Performers will not really make money from their craft even if they succeed (I'm not saying this for everybody but what Koreans collectively think in a generalized sense…so it is assumed that their main intent was to give glory to Korea in spite of negligent financial gains so being exempted is easily accepted.”

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