(Yonhap Feature) S. Koreans up in arms against entertainers' draft dodging

By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Sept. 13 (Yonhap) -- Some feigned insanity. Others dislocated their own
shoulder joints. The easier and less painful way was drinking lots and lots of
coffee to instantly raise blood pressure.
These are some of the creepy methods some young Koreans have been caught using to
dodge the mandatory military service in South Korea. Lately, another weird method
has been found used to dodge the draft: removing teeth.
Shin Dong-hyun, a hip-hop artist better known as MC Mong who made it to the top
with his improvisational flair and high-energy singing, faces charges that he
intentionally pulled out some healthy teeth to disqualify himself for the draft
in 2007.
According to the military, Army doctors found in 2007 that Shin, now 31, had a
total of 12 cheek teeth missing, which disqualified him for the military. But
after months of investigation, police said last week that at least four of those
missing teeth were intentionally pulled out, although they were healthy.
Shin was unreachable for comment, but he has previously denied any wrongdoing,
claiming that he had chronic gum problems from his childhood.
Shin's case has re-kindled a heated debate in South Korea over draft dodging by
celebrity TV and sports stars who make more money and wield more influence than
people in any other profession, but for whom job security is always in jeopardy.
In South Korea, all able-bodied men aged 20 or older are required to serve in the
armed forces, or complete civil service for nearly two years. Stars often fear
that they might be forgotten in the fast-changing entertainment realm where fame
goes quickly.
What drives stars to resort to disturbing, self-tormenting behavior as a means to
duck the law, despite police crackdowns and the risk that being found guilty of
such practices will mean public censure and the end of their careers?
"They are active and popular now but have to go to the military soon. No one
would understand how stressful that is," said Kang Pong-sik, a representative of
the Korea Entertainment Producers Association and manager of entertainment agency
Star Join.
"Entertainers face much deeper pressure from their military duty than ordinary
people, as popularity is fleeting," Kang said. "Producers also have that in mind.
A boy is talented and promising, but if the military service matter hasn't been
resolved, they would be reluctant to pick him up."



Since the allegations against Shin emerged in July, the message board of "Two
Days and One Night," KBS-TV's flagship variety road show that stars him, has been
inundated with threats and invectives demanding that he be fired.
Shin had received a first-grade result (the highest ranking) in a 1997
conscription examination, but when he was re-examined in 2007, he received
exemption due to dental deficiency.
Controversy over celebrities' draft dodging has never ceased to exist, with huge
public uproars ensuing after every case.
Yoo Seung-jun, a Seoul-born singer who immigrated to the United States as a
child, had repeatedly said in interviews that he would fulfill his military duty.
But in 2002, just before he was to be enrolled, he became a naturalized U.S.
citizen. It shocked the Korean public, and the government banned him from
performing and expelled him to the United States.
Psy, a hip-hop artist known for his flamboyant stage persona, was sent back to
the military in 2007 after his earlier stint at the alternative civil service was
found to be negligent.
Tablo, the leader of the group Epik High who is currently a Canadian citizen, was
first mired in rumors about fake academic records at Stanford University, but
when the charges were lifted, public attention swiftly moved to his nationality.
Rumors continue to arise online that he chose the Canadian citizenship to evade
the military service.
"There is a common view that entertainers are the privileged class who easily
make money, and there's a common jealousy against them," said Lee Taek-gwang, a
British and American culture studies professor at Kyunghee University in Seoul.
"So when those privileged people evade the duty, the public feels greater anger
than toward evaders of any other profession."
Entertainment is by far the most desired vocation for young Koreans. According to
a March survey of some 10,470 children by the online portal Daum, 50 percent said
they wanted to become a singer or an actor. Traditionally sought-after jobs like
becoming a teacher or doctor, scientist or even president took a back seat with
one-digit figures.
Stars often fear that they might be forgotten in the fast-changing entertainment
realm where fame goes quickly.
According to a poll on the efficacy of television commercials by CM Institute, a
private research organization in Seoul, it takes years for even top stars to
regain popularity after military service, and for many, such a rebound is only a
remote possibility.
In the survey of 1,200 people on their celebrity preference, Won Bin, a top-class
actor with boyish charm, scored 2.56 points during his prime shortly before his
military enrollment in 2005. He was discharged from the military after seven
months for a ligament injury, but it was not until the summer of 2009 that he
rebounded with a 2.47 score thanks to starring in a coffee commercial.
On the other hand, Rain, the Asia-wide sensation, has always received high
scores, including a 6, as his career had never been halted by military service.
However, Rain's commercial preference has been faltering in recent months,
according to the institute, after he had postponed his enrollment that was
scheduled for this month. Also, the abrupt sell-off last month of his stocks at
his entertainment agency, J-Tune, which incurred severe losses on minor
stockholders, drew grimaces from the public.
"Those who serve in the military gain positive points, those who don't get
negative. But the more important part is how they recuperate after they leave,"
said Kyeong Won-sik, general manager at the institute. "Even top stars find it
hard to come back after staying away from the screens for such a long time."


Confronting North Korea across the last Cold War frontier, South Korea strictly
implements its mandatory conscription system, but statistics among the power
elite have raised feelings that the rules are not always fair.
According to a 2006 survey by a KBS-TV investigative team, the exemption rate
soared invariably high for the wealthy: 73 percent among the members of the
family owning the Samsung Group, 57 percent among the SK Group family and 50
percent in the Hanjin Group. The evasion rate is also high among top government
officials and politicians.
Dismal statistics of the 650,000-strong military are hardly inviting. According
to data from the Defense Ministry, more than 1,000 soldiers desert barracks every
year, while 70 to 80 servicemen commit suicide.
"Toward the military, Korean men are highly ambivalent," said Lee, the culture
studies professor. "There is no other place than the military where inequality is
shown so clearly. One has to serve in the military, but his friend with an
exceptional background gets exemption. Men learn to accept the rules of society,
which is a painful process, but they also feel proud of becoming part of it."
For celebrities, current laws allow exemption of military duty only for Olympic
medalists and Asian Games gold medal winners. Entertainers had once sought a
similar benefit. Their association had asked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and
Tourism to consider exempting Korean Wave stars from service for their
contributions to tourism and "enhancing the nation's profile," but the subject
was dropped with concerns of inequality.
"People are too quick to make judgments," said Kang, the chief of the Korea
Entertainment Producers Association. "MC Mong has done many charity events and is
such a talented entertainer, but when the issue like this emerges, people set off
a witch hunt."
hkim@yna.co.kr
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