SHINee's Minho has already enlisted in the military on April 15 after getting accepted to the Marine Corps in March. After Onew and Key, he is the third SHINee member to enter South Korea's mandatory military service.
A day ahead of his enlistment, the singer-turned-actor gifted his fans with a handwritten letter he posted on his social media account.
"It's been a long time since I've written out my thoughts like this. Everyone knows right? I will be joining the military on April 15. If it's short, it will be short and if it's long, it's long, but I will be away from you all for a short while," the 27-year-old artist posted in the vernacular.
In his letter, Minho apologized for not being able to "connect more" with his fans. Nonetheless, he shared his gratitude for the support he has received since his group's debut back in 2008.
"Looking back and thinking for a moment, I never imagined that I would be able to receive the love and support from SHINee World since I am lacking. SHINee World became a source of warmth and comfort to me, when I ran forward and worked hard and only looked after myself. I sincerely want to thank everyone again," he said.
At the end of his letter, the Korean superstar shared that he "will work even harder in the military" so as not to disappoint his fans.
"...thank you again. And I love you all!!! You are forever my hope," he added.
Apart from his message, he also posted photos revealing his military-ready haircut.
Minho is the first artist from SM Entertainment that has been accepted in the Marine Corps. He will serve at the Marine Corps training center headquartered in the North Gyeongsang Province.
During his enlistment day, fellow SHINee member Taemin sent him off as seen in a photo uploaded on the group's Instagram page. The post was captioned with a short yet sweet message, "healthy and safely."
SHINee was originally a five-piece group, led by vocalist Jonghyun who passed away in December 2017. They gained prominence with their hits "Lucifer," "Ring Ding Dong," "Replay," and "Hello" among many others.
Apart from his stint in SHINee, Minho has also ventured into acting. His notable shows include "To The Beautiful You" (2012), "My First Time" (2015), and "Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth" (2016). His silver screen debut was through 2016's "Canola."
