For the last two years the boy band JYJ has been discussing when members Kim Junsu, Kim Jae Joong and Park Yoo Chun would enlist. Fortunately, they did not enlist last year or Japanese fans would have missed out on some great concerts and kdrama fans would have missed Park Yoo Chun's excellent performance in the drama "Missing You."
The timing of enlistment is always complicated for entertainers. All Korean males between the ages of 18 and 35 must serve two years of military duty but those are often the most profitable years for actors and singers. When celebrities enlist they often get special assignments involving promotional activities rather than active military duty. But recent scandals about the abuse of celebrity military privileges have led to much negative publicity and a call to end such special treatment.
The JYJ members visited the Office of Military Manpower Administration early in 2011 for their physicals. Kim Jae Joong, who appeared in the dramas "Protect the Boss" and "Time Slip Dr. Jin," as well as the films "Heaven's Postman" and "Jackal is Coming" received his enlistment notice later that year but asked for a postponement. As it becomes harder to postpone his military duty, he is talking to his agency about an enlistment date.
All the JYJ members are under 30, so they still have time. But they will probably enlist later this year or early next year, once they can coordinate the dates with previously scheduled group activities.
A representative from their agency said that given the current controversy surrounding celebrity soldiers, both Junsu and Jaejoong are both considering enlisting as active duty soldiers.
"The enlistment of male celebrities has always been a sensitive topic, and both singers are thinking they will choose active duty to avoid the criticism that follows a celebrity enlistment," said the representative. "They can't help but be cautious as their superstar status makes their enlistment a hot topic."
Park Yoo Chun, the star of "Missing You," "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" and "Rooftop Prince" was given fourth grade reservist status due to his having asthma, so he will not be called on to serve regular active duty. No date has been set as to when his reservist duties will start.
Netizens wonder what the group's fans will do once the members enlist. JYJ is known for having some of the most obsessed saesang fans. They are famous for stalking the group's members.
One netizen hoped the fans would "get a life," while their favorite idols were in the army.
But a few netizens did not think military duty would end the fans stalking activities. The fans might sneak into the base to take pictures of Junsu and Jaejoong.
"Night watch duty is going to be a pain for those two," wrote one netizen.
