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Choi Ha Rin

Given South Korea’s military service requirement for its citizens, many K-pop and K-drama fans sadly anticipate the day their favourite stars need to take a 20-month break from the entertainment industry.
While army duty is mandatory for all able-bodied South Korean males between the ages of 18 and 28, there are a number of Korean celebrities who got exemptions.
Here’s a look at the stars who were spared …
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Jung Woo-sung didn’t meet the academic requirements

Prospective trainees have to meet academic requirements to take part in army duty. While it’s not applicable any more as the regulation was lifted earlier this year, according to Korea Herald, people were supposed to hold a high school diploma to be enlisted in the army until 2020.
Steel Rain star Jung Woo-sung couldn’t enlist in the army because he lacked the required academic background, according to Koreaboo. The 48-year-old actor reportedly grew up under difficult circumstances and ended up dropping out of high school.
Park Hae-jin suffered from depression

My Love from the Star actor Park Hae-jin was spared from fulfilling his two-year military duty in 2004. His lawyers said in 2010 that he received an exemption due to his struggles with depression and social phobia, according to Soompi. In 2010, the 38-year-old actor faced an investigation for possibly shirking the military draft, added Soompi.
According to Soompi, those suffering from certain mental illnesses – who have received treatment for six months or have been hospitalised for over one month – are exempt from army duty per South Korean military service law.
In an interview with Money Today, Park revealed that he had suffered from depression ever since he was young and that he was continuously getting treatment for it. He also opened up about how hurt he felt from reading news and comments scolding him for avoiding army duty on purpose.
Simon Dominic (Jung Ki-suck) damaged his left eye in a childhood accident

Military training requires having good eyesight. Popular South Korean rapper Simon Dominic, who is part of Jay Park’s label AOMG, couldn’t participate in the army duty due to an injury in his left eye. According to Chosun newspaper, the 37-year-old reportedly damaged the retina in his left eye in a childhood accident.


According to Koreaboo, he opened up about the accident in his song Who You?, singing “I’m not the same person any more” and “I was exempt after losing the sight in my left eye”.
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Jo Jung-suk became the sole caretaker for his mother

Hospital Playlist star Jo Jung-suk was excused from military duty due to family circumstances. The 40-year-old actor became the primary caretaker and sole provider for his mother after he lost his father at an early age, according to AllKpop. The star also quit university and entered the acting industry to earn more money.
Yoo Ah-in (Uhm Hong-sik) was diagnosed with a bone tumour

Sungkyunkwan Scandal star Yoo Ah-in was exempted from military duty because of health issues. According to the Korea Herald, the 35-year-old actor was diagnosed with a bone tumour in 2015. He also ruptured his shoulder muscle while filming two actions films Tough as Iron and Venetian in 2013 and 2015 respectively.
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Fame and celebrity

5 K-pop and K-drama stars who were exempted from military service, from Hospital Playlist’s Jo Jung-suk to rapper Simon Dominic and Forest star Park Hae-jin

Jo Jung-suk, Park Hae-jin and Yoo Ah-in are Korean celebrities who were all exempted from the country’s military requirement, but why? Photos: @jojungsuk, @parkhaejin_official/Instagram; EPA-EFE

South Korean actor Jung Woo-sung was exempted from military service because he didn’t meet the academic requirements. Photo: @tojws/Instagram

Actor Park Hae-jin was spared from military duty due to mental health struggles. Photo: @parkhaejin_official/Instagram

Rapper Simon Dominic was exempted from military service due to a childhood accident that damaged his left eye. Photo: @longlivesmdc/Instagram

Jo Jung-suk was spared from military duty due to family circumstances. Photo: @jament_official/Instagram

Yoo Ah-in was diagnosed with a bone tumour in 2015. Photo: @hongsick/Instagram

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K-pop idols BTS’ Jin, Twice’s Jihyo and NCT’s Jeno have some odd allergies. Photos: @bts_bighit, @m2mpd/Twitter; @twicetagram/Instagram

Jin says being allergic to garlic has been especially hard, given how much Korean food includes the ingredient. Photo: @BTS_bighit/Twitter

BTS fans know that Jin loves to cook, which makes his allergies even harder to deal with. Photo: JTBC

Nu’est’s Min-hyun discovered he was allergic to salt after filming the music video for Overcome. Photo: @optimushwang/Instagram

Jihyo, though often described as “fruity” by fans, is in fact allergic to pineapples. Photo: @twicetagram/Instagram

Pineapples make Jihyo’s throat itch. Photo: @twicetagram/Instagram

If Kim Woo-seok is wearing contact lens in this photo, his eyes are probably very uncomfortable! Photo: @woo.ddadda/Instagram

He is sensitive to contact lenses, but luckily fans seem to prefer Kim Woo-seok in glasses anyway. Photo: @woo.ddadda/Instagram

Despite owning three cats, Jeno is actually allergic to them. Photo: @m2mpd/Twitter

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The VIPs seem to be rich. Photo: Netflix

It’s unclear if he took over from a previous Front Man. Photo: Netflix

Sae-byeok is injured by the games. Photo: Netflix

The only previous winner we see is In-ho. Photo: Netflix

Maybe previous games had less players. Photo: Netflix

The games are still going. Photo: Netflix

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CL in a teaser photo of her new single Lover Like Me. Photo: @chaelincl/Instagram

South Korean rapper Lee Chae-rin, also known by her stage name CL, arrives for the 2021 Met Gala. Photo: AFP

Amber just released her latest EP, Z. Photo: @ajol_llama/Instagram

The cover art for Amber’s EP Beautiful, released in 2015. Photo: @KpoppppersStates/Twitter

Shinee’s Taemin in a promotional photo for his EP “Advice”. Photo: @SHINee/Twitter

Taemin in his music video for Advice. Photo: YouTube 

Moonbyul during her Eclipse promotion. Photo: @simpforbyulyi/Twitter

Jonghyun in his music video for Shinin. Photo: @pansyjonghyun/Twitter

Cover art for Jonghyun’s EP Base. Photo: @jjongskazoo/Twitter

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Kim Ji-won’s stage name was once “JessicaK”. Photo: @jiwon_hq/Twitter

Park Shin-hye made her on-screen debut with a music video for Lee Seung-hwan. Photo: @ssinz7/Instagram

Yoo In-na spent 11 years as a trainee at YG Entertainment. Photo: @yoo_inna0605/Instagram

Yoo In-na played Sunny in the hit K-drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. Photo: TVN

Lee was a trainee and debuted in a group called JQT under GP Entertainment. Photo: @sunbin_eyesmag/Instagram

Lee Sun-bin is currently dating Korean comedian and actor Lee Kwang-soo. Photo: @allkpop/Twitter

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Tottenham Hotspur’s South Korean striker Son Heung-min celebrates after his cross sets up midfielder Lucas Moura to score during an English Premier League football match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on October 3, 2021. Photo: AFP

Jisoo attended one of Son’s games and updated her Instagram story. Photo: Busan Ilbo

Rumours have been swirling around Son and Jisoo for two years. Photo: @sooyaaa_/Instagram

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Steel Rain star Jung Woo-sung didn’t meet the military’s academic requirements, while Sungkyunkwan Scandal star Yoo Ah-in was diagnosed with a brain tumour
Simon Dominic, who is part of Jay Park’s label AOMG, sang in his single Who You? about being exempted from army duty due to a childhood eye injury


Hospital Playlist actor Jo Jung-suk became the sole caretaker for his mother and Steel Rain star Jung Woo-sung didn’t finish high school, but which actor was accused of shirking army duty?
