KPOP OFFICIAL – Last Updated October 21, 2020 KST
Korean Military Service has existed since 1957 and requires male citizens between the ages of 18 and 28 to perform compulsory military service. Women are not required to perform military service, but they may join the military
Enlistment Age of Korean Military Service
When a Korean male turns 18 (Korean age) until the age of 28.
Most Korean men complete their military service in the early 20s. Typically, they will first graduate high school and complete one or two years of university and then start their military service. On the other hand, famous idols and actors usually wait a little longer before enlisting to the military because it may affect their career.
The Length of Korean Military Service
The length of military service in South Korea varies based on the military branch. Active-duty soldiers serve 1 year 6 months in the Army or Marine Corps, 1 year 8 months in the Navy, and 1 year 9 months in the Air Force. After conscripts finish their military service, they are automatically placed on the reserve roster and are obligated to attend 3 days of annual military training for 6 years (5 years from 2021).
Non-active duty personnel, or “supplemental service” personnel serve for various lengths: 1 year 9 months for social work personnel (better known as public service worker – personnel ordered to do public service work at places that require auxiliary workers such as Local community centers like City Hall, Government Agencies, and Public Facilities like Subway Station); 2 years 10 months for arts and sports personnel or industrial technical personnel; and 3 years for public health doctors, lawyers, veterinarians, or expert researchers.
South Korea currently has among the longest military service periods in the world, ranked behind Israel, Singapore, and North Korea.
Korean Military Service Holidays
Those who served in active duty for at least 100 days, they would be entitled to have the first time off for about 4 days, most people would go home to visit their loved ones.
The holidays are also granted as a reward. For every promotion that they get, they receive 10 extra days of time off. They will also get time off for major holidays.
Below are the list of Kpop Idols who have enlisted or had been discharged from military in 2020
January 2, 2020
2PM Jun. K – Discharged
2PM Jun. K was discharged from the military on January 2, 2020
January 8, 2020
INFINITE Sunggyu – Discharged
INFINITE Sunggyu has been discharged from the military on January 8, 2020
January 21, 2020
FTISLAND Lee Jae Jin – Enlist
FTISLAND Lee Jae Jin has enlisted in the military on January 21, 2020
January 28, 2020
HOTSHOT Junhyuk – Enlist
HOTSHOT Junhyuk has enlisted in the military on January 28, 2020
February 3, 2020
SNUPER Suhyun – Enlist
SNUPER Suhyun has enlisted in the military on February 3, 2020
February 24, 2020
FTISLAND Minhwan – Enlist
FTISLAND Minhwan has enlisted in the military on February 24, 2020.
February 25, 2020
2PM Wooyoung – Discharged
2PM Wooyoung has been discharged from the military on February 25, 2020, a few days earlier than planned (February 28, 2020) as a part of the Korean military’s efforts to combat COVID-19 (novel coronavirus).
On February 25, his agency JYP Entertainment stated, “Wooyoung was on his ETS leave when it was decided that he would be discharged early instead of returning to his military base to be discharged.”
March 2, 2020
MADTOWN And UNB Daewon – Enlist
MADTOWN And UNB Daewon has enlisted in the military on March 2, 2020.
March 9, 2020
Seungri – Enlist
Seungri has enlisted in the military on March 9, 2020 at the 6th Infantry Recruit Training Center in Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province.
UNIQ Sungjoo – Enlist
UNIQ Sungjoo has enlisted in the military on March 9, 2020. He shared a photo of his new short hairstyle and posted a handwritten letter to fans on Instagram.
March 13, 2020
Jang Hyunseung – Discharged
Jang Hyunseung was discharged from the military on March 13, 2020
March 19, 2020
CNBLUE Kang Min Hyuk, Lee Jung Shin – Discharged
On March 4, CNBLUE agency FNC Entertainment announced, “Kang Min Hyuk and Lee Jung Shin will be discharged on March 19 without returning [to their bases] from their ETS leaves according to the Ministry of National Defense’s policy.”
March 24, 2020
2AM Jo Kwon – Discharged
2AM Jo Kwon was officially discharged from the military on March 24, 2020.
March 25, 2020
Lee Jong Hyun – Discharged
Former CNBLUE member Lee Jong Hyun was discharged from the military on March 25, 2020 according to COVID-19 protocol
April 2, 2020
WINNER Kim Jin Woo – Enlist
WINNER Jinwoo has enlisted in the military on April 2, 2020. On April 2, Kim Jin Woo entered the Nonsan Army Training Center in South Chungcheong province to begin his military training.
April 6, 2020
Former BIGSTAR Feeldog – Enlist
Former BIGSTAR Feeldog has enlisted in the military on April 6, 2020. On April 6, Feeldog entered the recruit training center of the 22nd Infantry Division located in Goseong of Gangwon Province.
April 7, 2020
BTOB Eunkwang – Discharged
BTOB Eunkwang was officially discharged from the military on April 7, 2020. He held a live broadcast on YouTube to celebrate his return from mandatory military service.
April 10, 2020
Highlight Yoon Doojoon – Discharged
Highlight Yoon Doojoon was officially discharged from the military on April 10, 2020.
April 16, 2020
WINNER Lee Seung Hoon – Enlist
WINNER Lee Seung Hoon has enlisted in the military on April 16, 2020. He entered the Nonsan Army Training Center in South Chungcheong province to begin his military training on April 16. After four weeks of basic military training, he will serve as a public service worker at a designated institution.
April 27, 2020
Former FT ISLAND Song Seung Hyun – Enlist
Former FT ISLAND Song Seung Hyun has enlisted in the military on April 27, 2020.
On April 10, he took to his personal Instagram account to write, “Everyone, I am enlisting on April 27. I will go and come back safely. Because of the COVID-19 issue, I regret that I am not able to bid you farewell from a closer distance. Please be careful of COVID-19. Health is the most important thing. I am going to fulfill my duty to defend the nation.”
May 11, 2020
BTOB Hyunsik, Yook Sungjae – Enlist
BTOB Hyunsik and Yook Sungjae enlisted in the military on May 11, 2020 at the Nonsan Army Training Center in South Chungcheong Province.
PENTAGON Jinho – Enlist
PENTAGON Jinho will enlist in the military on May 11, 2020 making him the first member of PENTAGON to do military enlistment. PENTAGON will continue promoting as 7 members.
May 14, 2020
EXO Suho – Enlist
EXO Suho has enlisted in the military on May 14, 2020 at the Nonsan Army Training Center in South Chungcheong Province.
May 18, 2020
Block B U-Kwon – Enlist
Block B U-Kwon has enlisted in the military on May 18, 2020. On May 8, KQ Entertainment confirmed, “U-Kwon will be enlisting in the military on May 18. Following his basic training, he plans to fulfill his service as an active-duty soldier.”
May 26, 2020
HOTSHOT Hojung – Enlist
HOTSHOT Hojung has enlisted in the military on May 26, 2020
May 28, 2020
BTOB Ilhoon – Enlist
BTOB Ilhoon enlisted military privately on May 28, 2020. He will serve as a public service worker after four weeks of basic training.
May 29, 2020
Jang Keun Suk – Discharged
Jang Keun Suk (Jang Geun Suk) was discharged from Military on May 29, 2020.
June 15, 2020
Roy Kim – Enlist
Roy Kim will enlist in the military on June 15, 2020. Roy agency Stone Music Entertainment stated, “Roy Kim applied for the Marine Corps in March. He was recently notified by the Military Manpower Administration that he has been accepted to join the Marine Corps, and he will enlist on June 15 in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province to carry out his duties. Please keep watching over him.”
July 6, 2020
MYNAME Chaejin – Enlist
MYNAME Chaejin will enlist in the military on July 6, 2020
VIXX Ken – Enlist
VIXX Ken will enlist in the military on July 6, 2020. On May 12, Jellyfish Entertainment stated, “VIXX’s Ken will be enlisting on July 6. Due to safety reasons, we will not be publicly announcing the location and time of his enlistment.”
July 8, 2020
SHINee Onew – Discharged
SM Entertainment confirmed SHINee Onew will be discharged from the military on July 8, 2020. Onew is discharged 12 days early due to the military’s Coronavirus and vacation policy.
July 14, 2020
Nakjoon (Bernard Park) – Discharged
Nakjoon (Bernard Park) will be discharged from the military on July 14, 2020. He will be discharged 13 days early due to the military’s Coronavirus and vacation policy.
July 27, 2020
IMFACT Jeup – Enlist
IMFACT Jeup enlisted in the military on July 27, 2020
July 30, 2020
Zico – Enlist
Zico enlisted in the military on July 30, 2020
August 10, 2020
Park Sun Ho – Enlist
Park Sun Ho enlisted in the military on August 10, 2020
Teen Top Chunji
Teen Top Chunji enlisted in the military on August 20, 2020
August 18, 2020
Former VIXX, Hongbin – Enlist
Former VIXX member, Hongbin, enlisted in the military on August 18, 2020
August 28, 2020
B1A4 CNU – Discharged
B1A4 CNU has been discharged from military on August 28, 2020
August 30, 2020
Highlight Yang Yoseob – Discharged
Highlight Yang Yoseob has been discharged from military on August 30, 2020
August 31, 2020
Park Bo Gum – Enlist
Park Bo Gum enlisted in the military on August 31, 2020
September 7, 2020
VAV Baron – Enlist
VAV Baron enlisted in the military on September 7, 2020
October 5, 2020
KARD J.Seph – Enlist
KARD J.Seph will enlist in the military on October 5, 2020
October 7, 2020
SHINee Key, VIXX N, and 2AM Jeong Jinwoon – Discharged
On October 7, 2020, SHINee Key, VIXX N, and 2AM Jeong Jinwoon are being discharged from the military.
October 12, 2020
The Rose Hajoon – Enlist
The Rose Hajoon will enlist in the military on October 12, 2020
October 19, 2020
Block B Park Kyung – Enlist
Block B Park Kyung will enlist in the military on October 19, 2020. KQ Entertainment stated, “Park Kyung is enlisting as an active duty solder on October 19. He postponed his enlistment once in January, and he can no longer push it back, so he is enlisting now.”
October 26, 2020
EXO Chen – Enlist
EXO Chen will enlist in the military on October 26, 2020
October 27, 2020
INFINITE Sungyeol – Discharged
INFINITE Sungyeol will be officially discharged on October 27, 2020. He took his year-end leave as a soldier on October 4, and will not return to the military base. This is in line with the government’s plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19, allowing soldiers on leave who are close to their discharge date to not return to their posts and instead be discharged early.
November 12, 2020
CRUSH – Enlist
Crush will enlist in the military on November 12, 2020
November 15, 2020
SHINee Minho – Discharged
SHINee Minho will be officially discharged from military on November 15, 2020. He was supposed to leave on October 27, 2020 but decided to return the entire 20 days vacation to help his juniors with training
December 3, 2020
PENTAGON Hui – Enlist
PENTAGON Hui will enlist in the military on December 3, 2020. Cube Entertainment stated, “PENTAGON’s Hui is enlisting at the training center on December 3. After receiving basic training for four weeks, he will serve as a public service worker.”
You miss one member of Btob.
August 21, 2020: Btob Changsub discharged
December 6, 2020 Xiumin – EXO Discharge. We EXO-Ls are quite excited for this.
the rose dojoon + kard jseph.