With just one day of rest after wrapping up filming on his drama Bad Guy, actor Kim Nam-gil began his military life on July 15. He reported to the Chungnam, Nonsan, training center on Thursday afternoon, where he will undergo four weeks of training.
In addition to recent injuries (such as the hernia he was reportedly suffering), Kim was in a car accident in 2003 and suffered significant injuries including a ruptured ligament in his right knee. As a result, he has been assigned to work in the public sector for the duration of his service, which is a less physically strenuous assignment than active duty.
It’s a little jarring to see him looking so different when his drama is still ongoing — especially when the character he portrays has such as strong image. With all his hair shaved off and dressed down, he looks like a dorky little boy, not the suave, calculating mastermind. (I will, however, breathe a sigh of relief that the ajusshi pornstache is gone! I know it fit his character, but I was not a fan.)
As a result of Kim’s draft notice, the drama production scrambled to complete filming on time but in the end opted to cut the length from 20 planned episodes to 17.
(There were frustrated comments in previous posts asking why the army wouldn’t just grant Kim an extension of a few days or weeks, but keep in mind that there’s already a lot of criticism in Korean society — and an ever-present undercurrent of discontent — about the draft system, and the military would hardly want to open themselves up to more criticism over celebrity special treatment. There’s also dissatisfaction that the rich and the famous try to bribe their way out of duty or into plum assignments, and the citizenry doesn’t respond well to that kind of unfair disparity. See, for example, how harshly they reacted when certain celebrities tried to fake medical excuses, were caught, and reviled. The actors then repented in big public gestures and completed their service, and all was forgiven.)
Kim Nam-gil debuted in 2003 and initially acted under the screen name Lee Han. He’s credited as that in Lovers, Goodbye Solo, and a few other early projects, but decided to revert to his real name a couple years ago, which he felt was more true to himself. He shot to fame as Bi-dam in last year’s Queen Seon-deok.
Via OSEN
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Wow he looks much younger… *sigh* 2 years! Take care, Kim Nam Gil!
Kim Nam-Gil is too cute. New fan here, just wanting to say will miss but will be waiting for his return to film.
I liked the mustache…either way he is a handsome guy.
Gee, no wonder so many boyband idols are getting roles, that many arent prepared for. WIth more actual actors going in, serving or completing service.
woah i didn’t recognize him but he looks cute either way….sigh sigh…i’m just starting to know him fr his BG series & now he’s leaving! i like him with this cropped hair he’s so different than his BG image of course…ahhhh he’s so handsome!
(((((
be safe & if i had a wand right now i’d pull that 2 yrs so you’ll be back with us!
We look f/ward to your return & God speed! bogoshipo!
this is one actor i will really miss! hope his service goes well and he is back in a flash like gong yoo seemed to be! can’t wait for more from him. i am loving bad guy with all its flaws. i love the actors in it and kim nam gil just kills me–in a very good way!
his enlistment seems so quick. i hope he finished his scenes and we’re not left with clifthangers in the end.
Forgive me…I was thinking about Kim Nam-GIl service starting and looking for other information..and found that Sin Dong-Wook will be leaving on the 20th.
He was in Soulmate.
LOL with short hair he looks like a cute nerd
long hair makes him one sexy beast though!
*sighs* I’ll miss him so much! He’s one of my favorite actors…2 years, such a long time. Hopefully, we’ll see him soon as he was assigned to the public sector. Gah, all actors my age are either already serving or going away soon. *sighs again*
That said, I like how he looks in Bad Guy, ajusshi pornstache and all *g*
I will miss your acting!
Will be waiting for you to come back Bigger and Badder, our Bad Guy!
Thanks for serving your country with honor! Everyone is so proud of you ! & OMG you are so talented and charming/sexy ! Your military look is also so endearing – CUTE! Is that the real you? Wow! You can pull off any look and still be so HOT! You are “The Bad Guy”! Be safe, train well and return to the stage/screen because you will be missed !!! Nanun sarangheyo Kim Nam Gil Shi!
Oh awwies! =(
I really miss him cuz’ he already leaving to the military service, waaa………(sniffles)
Oooh, I knew that he had put his create name “Lee Han” but he had changed to his real name that I really like his real name “Kim Nam Gil” sound so cooool!!!! ^__^
It made me so laugh like that from #3 Chajjye’s comment, hehe!
I think Kim Nam Gil really look so good with his long hair from “Bad Guy” — it’s sooo hot, oh boooyyyy! Do your best & take care of health — FIGHTING! =)
oh…huhuhu!!! Its so sad… I’m very lonely that kim nam gil is off for 2 years… its a long time of waiting but i would surely wait for your coming back kim nam gil…do the best for your country & be the best that you can so when you come back we will see more of you… I know you have more to show in acting and in doing good for others…& i love you for that…keep in mind that in my heart you are always the most shining star…never will i forget you…i hope i can still hear news about you even you are having your military service it would somehow ease that agony of waiting & missing you…Takecare always! Godbless!
The first photo – why did SBN put their logo right below KMG’s dxxk? Are they trying to cover something or tell us something we don’t know?
LOL @ bo bae… I was actually hitting myself in the head for noticing that yesterday. LOL
and oh, i’m a fan of the pornstache and the long messy bun and the overall nymphomaniac look.
it’s jonny depp-ish and it’s refreshing because seeing A LOT of girl-faced oppas gives me a really bad toothache.
but boy oh boy, this guy is gorgeous in any look.
he looks adorkable with the shave and the specs. 
i’m gonna terribly miss him.
i hope you sokor peeps see him around… as i’ve heard he’ll be doing public service work. you won’t miss him alot, i guess. if you do see him around, please grab his butt for me. LOL <3
there goes my baby….sniff sniff miss you already…wwaughhhhhh
, aaahhhh, i just hope for him nd to his family a safety nd gud health not just in 2yrs OFmil service but throughout his life….GODBLESS:).
nam gil shi…. i will miss you.. i’ll be waiting :’(
KNG! We’ll miss you! Come back soon! Be safe there! Saranghe, oppa!
we’ll miss you1!
i will miss u kim nam gil..
Its sad that his off on screen for two years, but it will just pass away. Your fans will still be waiting for your next project…. Your still one of the best actor ( hollywood type).
be humble always and goodluck
my heart’s breaking. 2 years? such a long wait but i hope KNG all the best. may he learn a lot from his military experience and emerge a so much better person (that is if he can still get any better as he is best now
)
hope to see him, in person that is, in 2012. can’t wait.
Bidam! Bidam! Don’t leave us!
I will miss you KNG. I wonder if we can write to him. Does the military let people write to their people?
bidam aa baby, i gonna miss you.
im mz u kim nam gil…hope ur fine.lav u bidm….huhuhu
i will miss him for sure
wow…he looks so different…
u done a great job in queen seon deok
I like him.so muchhhh
i’m gonna miss you kim nam gil … take care always and God bless
saranghae <3 <3 <3 my love 
we will miss u kim nam gil… you have a lot of fans here in the philippines hope you’ll gonna visit here….
there should be possibility that kim nam in bad guy, is a live if the episode comes out to 20??????,. gosh!!! i love kim nam giL!!!,. lots of lovE!
i love kim nam’s eyes! his eyes acts before his face!,.