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Mandatory military duty is something every South Korean male knows is in his future. Sometime between the age of 18 and 28, all able-bodied Korean men must enlist for 21 months of service. A few are exempted if they’ve won an international classical music award or major athletic competition. For instance, soccer star Son Heung-Min was granted military exemption after he led his team to the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games. But even then, he had to complete an abbreviated three-week service and is required to complete about 550 hours of community service within the next three years.
There are a few actors, however, who were granted exemptions not because they brought glory to their country, but because of tragic circumstances. Jo Jung-Suk (who recently starred in the popular K-Drama “Hospital Playlist”) became the sole financial provider for his mother when he was 20 years old. He quit college and took acting jobs in musicals. When netizens took him to task for shirking his military duties, his agency released documents that proved the military had done a financial audit of his family’s dire situation prior to issuing an exemption.
More about Jo Jung-Suk:
Born in 1980, Jo is a talented singer and dancer, as well as actor. He married singer Gummy in 2018. The pair announced earlier this year that they are expecting their first child.
You can find him on KOCOWA in these K-Dramas: The Nokdu Flower, Two Cops, You are the Best, The King 2 Hearts
Kim was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer. In 2017, he announced that he would be taking a break from work to rest and get better. Because of his illness, he was exempted from military duty.
More about Kim Woo-Bin:
Born in 1989, Kim made his modeling debut at the age of 20. He is good friends with fellow model-turned-actor Lee Jong-Suk (who is currently serving in the military). The two would go on to star opposite each other as frenemies with a complicated past in the high school series, “School 2013.” Kim won international fame after appearing as bad boy Choi Young-Do in the hit K-Drama “Heirs.” He showed off his growth as an actor with his lead role in “Uncontrollably Fond,” where he poignantly portrayed a character who was dying. In real life, Kim has been dating “Oh My Venus” actress Shin MinAh since 2015.
You can find him on KOCOWA in these K-Dramas: The Heirs, School 2013, KBS Drama Special: White Christmas (as well as the documentary Humanimal)
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Some actors would’ve qualified for military exemption. Due to a car accident, “Haechi” star Jung Il-Woo suffered severe bodily injury. He was also diagnosed with cerebral aneurysm, which would’ve exempted him from serving. However, he chose to enlist. Since he couldn’t qualify as an active-duty soldier, Jung worked as a public service worker at the Korea Elder Protection Agency, aiding senior citizens with dementia and other ailments.
More about Jung Il-Woo: Born in 1987, Jung has often said that his best friend is also a childhood friend who attended a neighboring school: Lee Min-Ho! They were both severely injured in a 2006 automobile accident.
You can find him on KOCOWA in these K-Dramas: “Haechi,” “Moon River,” “The Moon Embracing the Sun“
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