EXO member Baekhyun will enlist in the military today, Thursday, May 6.
Baekhyun is scheduled to begin his mandatory military service today, May 6. He is the sixth EXO member to enlist, following Xiumin, D.O., Suho, Chen, and Chanyeol. Members Xiumin and D.O. have already returned from the army.
EXO Baekhyun will carry out his basic military training for three weeks, and will then work as a public service worker due to health issues. He has been constantly receiving treatment for hypothyroidism over the past years.
Considering this, the "Bambi" singer got Grade 4 on his physical examination, according to the Military Manpower Administration (MMA). Grades 1-3 are the only ones qualified for active service.
MMA stated that people with hypothyroidism typically receive Grade 3, but they can also get Grade 4 with proof of medication taken for more than six months.
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Hypothyroidism is an illness that involves the thyroid gland being unable to produce enough key hormones and causes slower metabolism, weight gain, swelling, fatigue, and more.
According to Dispatch, EXO member Baekhyun has been enduring this condition for a long time now, starting from his high school days.
Previously, SM Entertainment stated that they will not announce the time and location of Baekhyun's military enlistment and they will not be holding any special event regarding his mandatory military service.
Meanwhile, fans took to Twitter to send their support and love for Baekhyun as he enlists in the army. EXO-L (EXO's fan club) trended the keywords "SERVE WELL" and the hashtag "#weareoneEXO" on the platform, each having more than 60,000 tweets.
BAEKHYUN SEHUN @weareoneEXO pic.twitter.com/Aj15y89j3f
— 'KNOCK KNOCK!' (@knockknock_0408) May 6, 2021
At midnight of May 6, EXO-Ls trended the hashtags "#HappyBaekhyunDay" and "30SexyBaekhyunDay" online.
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On May 5, EXO Baekhyun shared a short message for the fans through his Instagram account, together with a photo of himself with a new haircut for his military service. In the caption, he wrote, "D-1. I'll go and return safely."
The "Candy" singer also held a special livestream via Naver's V Live on May 1 to celebrate his birthday in advance with EXO-Ls and BBH-Ls. Called "B-DAY: BAEKHYUN-DAY," the live broadcast featured mini-games, a Q&A session, and more.
EXO Baekhyun's Activities Prior to His Mandatory Military Service
Months before his military enlistment, EXO member Baekhyun completed numerous solo promotions. In early January, he conducted his first-ever solo concert, "Baekhyun: Light," which was broadcasted through the new streaming service Beyond Live.
On Jan. 4, Baekhyun pre-released a Japanese song titled "Get You Alone," the title track of his self-titled debut Japanese mini-album, which was launched on Jan. 21. The album has received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan.
On March 30, EXO Baekhyun dropped his third extended play titled "Bambi." The EP has six songs including the title track of the same name. Because of his upcoming military service, EXO member Baekhyun had no scheduled activities for "Bambi."
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Despite this, he still won his first music show trophy for "Bambi" on Music Bank. The "Growl" singer also obtained several major milestones, setting and breaking records on music charts and album sales.
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Written by Mhaliya Scott
