The news that Choi Jin Hyuk and JYJ's Kim Jae Joong would enlist in March was sad enough for k-drama fans but several other top stars are expected to announce enlistment dates soon.
Most likely to state a date of departure is Kim Jae Joong's fellow JYJ member and actor Park Yoo Chun. Although he has agreed to appear in a paranormal drama "Sensory Couple" with Shin Se Kyung, the members of JYJ have said in the past that they will enlist at roughly the same time. In June of 2014 C-JeS Entertainment announced that Yoo Chun and Jae Joong would leave for their mandatory military service after the new album. In July of 2014, Park said he wanted to do one more acting project before he enlisted.
Park is currently 28 and all Korean males are expected to serve two years of military duty before they turn 35. Most citizens prefer to serve before they are 30, although actors tend to postpone service since the 20s are the years when they are busy establishing a career.
Park Yoo Chun does have asthma, which may limit his ability to serve in an active duty capacity.
Kim Soo Hyun, who recently joined the cast of the drama "Producer," is also due to enlist. He will start filming "Producer" in April and is considering a film role before he signs up. Kim is 27.
Yoo Ah In turns 29 in October, so he is also enlistment age. He recently played the tragic Crown Prince Sado in the historical film "Sado." And he can also be seen in the 2015 film "Veteran."
Yoo Ah In took the auditions for the Seoul Police Public Relations Department but decided not to take further exams and instead serve as an active duty soldier. More celebrities are choosing to serve actively rather than participate in promotional duties after a scandal resulted in ending the existence of a special military unit for celebrities. Most celebrities served in that unit by participating in promotional activities. Yoo Ah In has not announced an enlistment date.
The other celebrity who is the right age for enlistment is Lee Seung Gi. In 2013 he said he would pinpoint the exact date when his schedule got more organized. At the time he had too many modeling contracts to fulfill. Since then the 28-year-old actor has acted in the police thriller "You're All Surrounded" and the romantic comedy film "Today's Love."
While these actors may soon be unavailable for acting roles, two other stars are back on the market. Yoo Seung Ho was discharged in December 2014 and is already working on the film "The Joseon Magician." Song Joong Ki will be discharged in May and is already in talks to star in "The Descendent of the Sun."
