In South Korea, all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 28 are required to join the military. In this article, we list some of the famous oppas who have already enlisted for their military service.
In South Korea, there is one law that many devoted Hallyu fans love to hate: the Conscription or military enlistment law that has been around since 1957.
It requires all male citizens between ages 18 and 28 to perform military services for the country, this means that depending on the branch of the military they are in, South Korea's male stars will be out of sight for a long period of time. Typically, men assigned under the Army and Marine will have to perform their duties for 21 months; those who are assigned to the Navy will serve for 23 months, while those in the Air Force will serve for 24 months.
See also: From Song Joong Ki To BTS' RM: 7 Korean Celebrities With Above Average IQs
Listed in this article are 10 of our favourite stars who were in the military to serve their country.
1. Song Joong-ki
Name: Song Joong Ki
Military Enlistment: 2013-2015
Known For: His performances in Descendants of The Sun (DOTS), Vincenzo, and Sungkyungkwan Scandal.
Did you know? In a 2015 editorial of the Kookbang Daily, a newspaper published by South Korea's Defense Media Agency, Song revealed that he was afraid that his celebrity status would be "viewed differently" by his comrades. The DOTS star disclosed that an unnamed commander had given him a piece of advice that allayed his fears.
“Living as a soldier made me more mature and I was able to gain valuable life’s experience,” he said.