All celebrity enlistments will now be directly handled by the Military Manpower Administration (MMA), the office has announced. This means that all celebrities and athletes will now be processed under the MMA.
According to a report by Soompi, entertainment agencies were informed by the MMA of this new policy which asked for their cooperation. The MMA sought the complete list of in house artists in accordance with the amended Military Service Act.
Based on the amendment, the MMA's scope has been expanded to include control on celebrities and athletes who enlist with the military. This means that the Military Manpower Administraton is now in charge of those in Grade 4 or higher. Apart from the management of trainees, the office will now also be in charge of the overall process of the enlistment of celebrities.
According to a report by All Kpop, the move was intended to ensure that artists will enlist on time and not delay their mandatory service because of work commitments. "Celebrity enlistment is an interest to the whole nation. As a new law has been implemented for a thorough care, we need active cooperation from entertainment agencies," the publication's source explained.
Expected to be affected by the new order will be artists born between January 1, 1980 to December 31, 1999. This will include actors, singers, comedians, models and trainees under different labels.
Under the Conscription Law, which falls under the constitution of the Republic of Korea, males aged between 18 to 35 are required to undergo mandatory military service or compulsory national service. Mandatory service lasts for a period of two years. However, recent concerns stemmed from agencies and artists delaying their service due to commitments with work, prompting the MMA to act on the issue.
Among the celebrities expected to receive their enlistment date in 2017 is "Legend of the Blue Sea" actor Lee Min Ho, "The Healer" star Ji Chang Wook, and Love Rain actor Jang Geun Seuk, My Love from the Stars actor Kim Soo Hyun is expected to enlist after his film Real comes out on cinemas. My Sassy Girl remake star Joo Won is waiting for his enlistment date, Drama Fever reported.
The K-pop industry is expected to be hit really hard this year since after the enlistment of BIG BANG's T.O.P. two of his dongsengs are also expected to follow suit. G-Dragon and Taeyang are expected to receive their enlistment dates in late 2017 and are busy completing their solo albums and concerts in the first half of the year. Super Junior maknae Kyuhyun, 2PM's Taecyeon and Jun.K, Besties Beenzino and In Seul Ong are also expected to join the army this year.
