Korean military service is required for male citizens between the ages of 18 and 35, and this is the same for Korean celebrities.
Yet, there are also exceptions that mean a change in roles to complete the service and even exemptions. One actor who sparked surprise with his exemption announcement was actor Na In Woo.
“Marry My Husband” Actor Na In Woo Exempted From Military Service After Waiting 3 Years
Na In Woo later addressed the exemption and shared reasons for it.
One idol who has opened up about his enlistment being postponed for the same reason as Na In Woo is TEEN TOP‘s Niel. The idol was born in 1994, meaning he should have already enlisted by now, and it has sparked past discussions.
Ahead of his comeback, Niel sat down with members of the press and answered questions related to the comeback and much more.
In particular, he spoke about his enlistment, revealing that he had been exempt from serving. The idol explained that he was categorized as a public service worker in 2021 but has been waiting for three years, leading to an eventual change, meaning he was not required for active enlistment.
But in 2024, I was reclassified as a wartime laborer due to long-term deferment.
— Niel
The term “wartime laborer” means those classified as this are not conscripted during peacetime but are called up only during wartime and are used for military support work. Niel also added that his “social service” classification was due to personal reasons.