Mark Your Calendars: These Oppas Will Return from Military this 2020
Apr 11, 2020 • Ina Louise Manto
Being a K-pop fan is a feat: from acquiring albums abroad to lining up for tickets to see your favorite idols live. The same goes for fans of K-dramas. It’s even made more difficult when your idols start enlisting in the military. According to South Korean law, all men between 18 and 30 must undergo mandatory military service for up to two years. Though we’re saying goodbye to more idols this year, the long wait is finally over for some! Mark your calendars and start the countdown as these oppas will return from military this 2020:
Actor Jang Geun Suk
Via Soompi
Actor Jang Geun Suk entered the military on July 16, 2018. However, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, making him ineligible for active duty in the military. He currently serves as a public worker and is set to be discharged on July 15. Jang Geun Suk is best known for his roles in several dramas like Beethoven Virus (2008) and Switch (2018).
Shinee’s Onew, Key, and Minho
From left to right: Onew, Key, and Minho
Shawols, heads up! OT3 will be discharged this year! Onew was the first member to enlist in December 2018. He’s serving for active duty in the military and will be discharged on July 20. Key followed in March 2019 as a member of the military band service and will end his service on October 7. Lastly, Minho started his duty in the Marine Corps in April 2019 and his expected discharge is on November 15. Their “maknae” or youngest member, Taemin, won’t be enlisting until 2024.
Shinee is one of the veteran K-pop groups who debuted in 2008. One of the best hits includes 2009’s “Ring Ding Dong”.
Actor Kim Min Seok
Via Soompi
Actor Kim Minseok is known for his roles in the dramas Descendants of the Sun (2016), The Doctors (2016), and Innocent Defendant (2017). He started his duty as an active soldier in December 2018 and will be discharged in July. Kim Minseok also participated in the military musical, Return: The Promise of the Day with other idols enlisted in the military.
BTOB Members
From left to right: Changsub, Eunkwang, and Minhyuk
Melodies, OT3 is returning! Seo Eunkwang, the group’s leader, was the first to enlist in August 2018 and will be discharged on April 7. The group’s vocalis Lee Changsub followed in January 2019 and will end his service on August 21. Lee Minhyuk is the third member to enlist in February 2019. He’s currently serving as a conscripted policeman and will end his service on September 12.
BTOB or Born to Beat is a 7-member K-pop group that debuted in 2012. Their best hits include “Insane” (2012) and “Way Back Home” (2015).
Singer Jo Kwon
Via Soompi
Jo Kwon was a former member of the K-pop group 2 AM. He enlisted in August 2018 as an active soldier on duty and will end his service on March 24 due to COVID-19 protocol. Jo Kwon is a soloist under Cube Entertainment and has appeared in musicals and dramas like All My Love in 2010.
Highlight Yang Yoseob
Via Soompi
Highlight is a South Korean boy band formerly known as Beast. The group debuted in 2009 with 6 members but is currently left with 4. The group’s main vocalist, Yang Yoseob entered the military in 2018 as a conscripted police officer. He is to return from his service on August 30.
EXO Xiumin
From Xiumin’s update in EXO-L Ace Fan Cafe
EXOLs, our fake maknae is returning this year! EXO Xiumin or Kim Minseok is the first among the members to enlist on May 7, 2019. Due to the military service being cut short from 2 years to 18 months, Xiumin will be discharged on December 6. In 2019, he joined the original military musical Return: The Promise of the Day along with actor Kim Minseok, Shinee’s Onew, VIXX’s N, and more.
EXO is a Korean-Chinese K-pop group that debuted in 2012. Their most popular hits include “Growl” in 2013 and “Love Shot” in 2018, which started a dance craze in the Philippines.
Yoon Ji Sung
Credits as watermarked
Yoon Ji Sung is a former member of the disbanded K-pop group Wanna One, and he is the last idol who will end his military service in 2020. He began his duty as an active soldier in May of last year and will end his 21-month service on December 13. According to sources, he’s likely to start promoting as a solo artist in 2021.
How excited are you to see your favorite oppas again? Tell us below!
