WINNER's Kim Jin Woo, often called as Jinu, took to the official fan club website of his band to tell everyone that he is going to enlist in the military soon.
A contact person from his agency verified later on that he would enlist on April 2. He will undergo four weeks of essential military preparation before he fulfills the remainder of his military service, as a civil servant.
Kim Jin Woo is his band's oldest member and is the first to join the army. Born in 1991, all qualified Korean idols born in this year and 1992 should be enlisted under military law by the end of 2020, as previously stated by another article.
As expected, the Inner Circle (WINNER's fandom name) were saddened upon Jinu's announcement as it means he won't be able to partake in his group's promotions for their upcoming album once he leaves for the army.
Check out Jinu's handwritten letter to the fans below.
"Inner circle exists so WINNER exists too!
Nothing else, I decided to just let my news be known to our Inner Circles, so here I am!
I am soon be enlisting for the military this coming April 2.
Even though I have to leave our ICs for quite a while, know that I will be well on this trip so please do me a favor, ICs should do good with their own lives as well because health is our highest priority!
Wish you would all be safe. To be capable of giving everyone an album that is like a present for us and the IC compared to everything else, I'm so proud!
We really prepared for this album while savoring every bit of it, and I'm honored to be able to listen to this with our supporters!
There are still many better days ahead, so we must smile and be glad!
Although I can not express my emotion to the very extent of love I get, our fans will always be number 1 in my heart, no matter when. You remember, okay?
I have always been really grateful to my dongsaengs who are my true brothers and I love you guys! Always remember that no matter where and when the time is our fans will always be our greatest pillars!
I'm going now and I entrust you all to my dongsaengs We will certainly all meet again after my military service. You have to be careful, and stay healthy!
Thank you."
At 6 P.M. KST on March 26, WINNER has pre-released their title track "Hold" from their forthcoming album "Remember." Not only did it rank highest in Korea in real-time music charts shortly after its release, it was also listed in several countries worldwide in iTunes charts.
At 10 A.M. KST, it reached No. 1 on iTunes Top Track rankings on at least 16 continents, including Thailand, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Peru, Honduras, Costa Rica, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and more on March 27.
The album was also on top of the iTunes Top K-Pop Songs List and Japan's Top Pop Album List.
The 3rd studio album of WINNER "Remember" will be launched on April 9 at 6 P.M. KST, and it will include 12 songs including "Hold."
Congratulations, WINNER! And good luck on your journey, Jinu!
