Mandatory military service is something that fans usually fear, as it means that their favorite celebrities will be away for quite some time.
There are a few celebrities who got exempted from military service, here are 10 of them.
1. Seo In Guk
Seo In Guk originally enlisted into the military in March 2017. After four days of enlisting, Seo In Guk was excused from his military service due to a severe ankle injury. It was revealed that Seo In Guk had osteochondritis dissecans, which is a joint condition. This made Seo In Guk receive a grade 5 health rating, which made him exempt from the military.
2. Yoo Ah In
Yoo Ah In got exempted due to his bone tumor. After multiple medical examinations, he was deemed unfit to serve in the military.
3. Kim Woo Bin
Kim Woo Bin was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in 2017. Kim Woo Bin was exempted from military service due to his health.
4. Jo Jung Suk
Jo Jung Suk‘s case is more heartbreaking, as his exemption was due to financial issues. Jo Jung Suk’s father passed away in 2000, so he was granted exemption from the military to provide for his mother. Jo Jung Suk also quit school during this time, so that he could start earning money from doing musicals, which was his passion.
5. Ten (NCT)
Ten has always dealt with severe knee pain, to the point where he had to get surgery in 2017. Ten was exempted from the Thai military lottery due to his severe injury.
6. Eun Ji Won
Eun Ji Won was exempted from military service due to his lack of education. In middle school, Eun Ji Won studied overseas in Hawaii. Eun Ji Won became a transfer student at Korea Kent Foreign School when he returned to Korea, but his education wasn’t recognized. Eun Ji Won was only viewed as a middle school graduate, which made him exempt from the military.
7. Son Heung Min
Son Heung Min is one of the more recognized people on this list, as his exemption is quite well-known. In the 2018 Asian Games, South Korea won the gold medal in men’s football, which Son Heung Min was part of. Military services are exempted from athletes who win a gold medal at the Asian Games, so Son Heung Min was exempted from his military services. Also earning themselves military exemption for winning are Kim Min Jae, Jo Hyeon Woo, and Hwang Hee Chan.
8. BamBam (GOT7)
BamBam ending getting exempted from military services due to the number of volunteers that filled up the remaining spots needed during the military lottery draw.
9. Jung Jun Ha
Jung Jun Ha got exempted from military services due to him being the only son for the fourth generation of his family.
10. SEVENTEEN’s S.Coups
S.Coups was exempted from the military after receiving a Grade 5 rating during his health check. He tore his ACL back in August 2023 and required lengthy rehabilitation and recovery.
