Park Ki Woong, who is currently appearing on the SBS reality show "Heart Beats," has announced an enlistment date. He will report for his two-year mandatory military duty on May 8.
According to his agency, WAVEON Entertainment, after the actor receives basic training, he will serve as a military policeman.
"Before there were rumors that he would join the Seoul Police Promotional Unit, but that is not true," said a representative from his agency. "He will be an ordinary serviceman and has applied to be a policeman. Even before the cancellation of the celebrity military unit, Park Ki Woong intended to be an average serviceman and since he has the skills, his application was accepted."
The celebrity military unit, in which actors often served their military duty doing promotional activities, was cancelled last year due to a scandal. A documentary captured celebrities abusing their special status. In response to public outrage, the unit was cancelled and now all celebrities must fulfill their obligation as active serviceman.
Park Ki Woong originally planned to enlist in October 2013 but had film commitments. Last year he starred in the hit film "Secretly Greatly" with Kim Soo Hyun and Lee Hyun Woo. This year he worked on two films. He finished filming "I Saw You" and is currently wrapping up his part in "Made in China." The 29-year-old actor hopes to have a fan meeting in Japan before he enlists.
"A fan meeting is as yet unconfirmed. It will depend on the situation," said his agency. "He will work hard on 'Heart Beats' until his enlistment. He'll carry out his schedules until mid-April and will continue to do his best until then."
On the reality show "Heart Beats," Park Ki Woong trains and works with real firefighters in emergency situations. The actor debuted in a Japanese horror film and had a breakout hit as the son of a Japanese officer in the drama "Bridal Mask." He won DramaFever's best bromance reward last year for his work with Joo Won in that drama.
While Korean men can wait until they are 35 to enlist, most do so before they are 30. Several other k-drama stars are approaching 30 and must consider enlistment dates. Kim Jaejoong and Choi Jin Hyuk are 28. Kim Hyun Joong and Lee Seung Gi are 27. Seo in Guk will be 27 this year. Lee Jong Suk, who is only 24, has already talked about his plans to enlist.
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