Song Joong Ki is planning to enlist. Later this month, he will join the 102nd Reserves in Chuncheon where he will undergo basic training for active military service. To say goodbye to his fans, the 27-year-old actor released a farewell statement through his agency.
"I received my enlistment notice from the Military Manpower Administration. I will enlist on August 27. I will conclude my promotional activities before then and plan to enter the training facility. I sincerely thank everyone who supported and loved me. Since I can't personally greet and thank every one of you, I am conveying my gratitude through this message. I will return after carrying out my military duties. Until I return and greet you again with a good production, please take care."
The news comes as something of a surprise to his fans because as late as June his agency was denying that he had any enlistment plans.
All Korean males must serve two years of military duty between the ages of 18 and 35, but until recently many celebrities received celebrity recruit status and could fill their two years service by working for the military's public relations unit.
When Song Joong Ki shows up for military duty later this month, he will be the first celebrity to sign up since the public relations unit was closed due to controversy over the special treatment received by celebrity recruits. While many celebrity recruits served honorably in the public relations department, a few abused their privileges. The abuse of celebrity recruit privileges was the subject of a recent documentary. The decision to end the program followed a scandal that involved singers Se7en and Mighty Mouth's Sangchu visiting an adult massage parlor while on duty.
When they learned of Song Joong Ki's enlistment plans, some netizens commented that it was bad luck that all celebrity soldiers would now have to serve active duty because of the actions of celebrity recruits such as Se7en and Sangchu. But others said that it was a good thing that the special status was now a thing of the past because it offers celebrities a chance to honorably serve their country and thereby improve their image.
"Serve well without any regrets," said one netizen.
Song Jong Ki, debuted in the 2008 film "A Frozen Flower," and recently appeared in the dramas "Innocent Guy" and "Sungkyunkwan Scandal," on the variety show "Running Man," and in the film "A Werewolf Boy." The actor will attend a last fan meeting on August 17 in Seoul.
