BTS In Battle imagines a fantastical version of world-famous Korean boy band BTS’s mandatory military service. All male Korean citizens are required to perform two years of military service, a policy that has inconvenienced many young Korean pop cultural figures, from musicians to pro-gamers. Politics, nationalism, and equity, war against popularity and cultural influence, and BTS’ international profile has made the issue of their mandatory service a global headline. BTS In Battle speculatively (and absurdly) preempted this cultural flashpoint as an 8-bit videogame, developed for the Game Boy Color.
Ultimately, mere weeks before the debut of BTS In Battle, BTS finally confirmed that they will serve, and are not subject to any policy changes or loopholes.