"18-Month Military Hiatus Forgotten, Rising as a Top Star... What Happened in the Military?"

"The so-called 'gunbaekgi' (military + hiatus) is meaningless."

On the 19th (local time), the U.S. music media Billboard reported that BTS member Jungkook, currently serving in the military, has charted on the Billboard main chart 'Hot 100' for 19 consecutive weeks with his solo album 'GOLDEN.' The previous week, BTS's 2018 released full-length album 'LOVE YOURSELF 轉 'Tear'' reappeared on the 'Billboard 200' at number 92, drawing attention. On the 15th, member V released the new song 'FRI(END)S,' and on the upcoming 28th, J-Hope is set to release the documentary 'HOPE ON THE STREET.'

Lee Do-hyun, currently serving in the military, posted a photo on Instagram to express his gratitude to his devoted fans.

Actor Lee Do-hyun, who enlisted in August last year, has risen to stardom during his military service with the film 'Pamyoh,' which is close to reaching 10 million viewers. Before enlisting in 2022, he simultaneously filmed 'Pamyoh,' Netflix's 'The Glory,' and JTBC's drama 'Bad Mother.' As these works became hot topics upon release, the public feels that his military hiatus is not felt at all.

As seen in the activities of BTS and Lee Do-hyun, who completely erase the enlistment gap, it has become a common trend in the entertainment industry for stars to complete multiple contents in advance and release them sequentially after enlistment to avoid the feeling of absence.

Group BTS members Jin (left) and J-Hope (right) during military service
[Photo by Weverse fan community]

In the past, enlistment for military service was practically considered a halt in activities or akin to semi-retirement for stars. Therefore, it was common to see cases where enlistment was postponed as much as possible or avoided, leading to controversies and criticism. However, as the service period, which used to be 36 months, has been reduced by nearly half to 18 months for the Army and Marine Corps, more stars are voluntarily choosing to enlist recently.

According to current military service laws, postponing enlistment after the age of 28 is strictly limited. Unless there are unavoidable special reasons such as illness, mental or physical disability, or family death, enlistment cannot be delayed. However, for entertainers, from age 28 to before 30, enlistment can be postponed and departure abroad allowed based on contributions to Hallyu overseas activities, with the recommendation of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and approval from the Military Manpower Administration. The revised military service law has adjusted entertainers' enlistment timing to focus around age 28.

For male stars whose active periods overlap with enlistment timing, enlistment can be a fatal blow. However, the background behind stars voluntarily choosing to enlist and serve before age 28 reflects a change in perception toward military service and public sentiment regarding military duty. As seen in cases like Yoo Seung-jun (Steve Yoo) and MC Mong, who suffered irreparable damage due to military service evasion controversies, military service issues are directly linked to future activities, so the industry widely agrees that fulfilling military duty is not a choice but a necessity.

Additionally, the ability for continuous exposure through OTT and online platforms has minimized the risks associated with a star's military hiatus, which is another factor influencing enlistment. For example, EXO member Baekhyun posted videos on his YouTube channel every month on the 17th at 7 PM during his military service. He was praised for wisely filling his military hiatus by pre-recording 21 pieces of content to upload during his absence.

An entertainment agency official explained, "With the reduction of military service periods and the perception that fulfilling military duty sincerely leads to image renewal and increased favorability, the expected benefits are greater. Now, the trend is not to delay or avoid enlistment unnecessarily." He added, "From the perspective of stars who suffer from grueling schedules, military service, which allows for a more regular lifestyle, is increasingly seen as a period for rest and recharging, leading to more cases of voluntary enlistment."