The long-standing controversy over K-pop stars receiving preferential treatment during their mandatory military service has resurfaced following BTS member Suga's drunk driving incident Tuesday. Currently serving as a public service agent, Suga was booked and is under police investigation for driving an electric scooter while intoxicated. In response, the Military Manpower Administration released a press statement Thursday, addressing the incident and promising to strengthen education to ensure social service agents comply with regulations during their service.
The MMA also committed to rigorously managing and supervising these agents. “When social service agents are enlisted, they receive basic training at a training center. They also undergo job-specific training at their respective institutions and regularly follow service regulation courses.
As part of efforts to strengthen education, the MMA plans to increase either the duration or frequency of training sessions,” MMA deputy spokesperson Woo Tak-kyoun told The Korea Herald on Thursday. However, skepticism surrounds the MMA’s promised measures, as numerous celebrities have faced trouble while serving their military terms as social service agents. Last year, rapper Nafla was accused of frequently being absent from work while fulfilling his service days as a public service agent.
In 2016, Park Yoo-chun of TVXQ was accused of sexual assault at a nightlife establishment while serving as a social service agent, and actor.