Actor Lee Wan headed off for his initial five weeks of army training on the afternoon of July 12, reporting at the Nonsan, Chungnam, training facility.
Born in 1984, Lee Wan is heading off to fulfill his mandatory obligation after one extension, which he’d been granted in order to be able to film his last drama, Swallow the Sun. At 26, he’s going a little earlier than many male celebrities who push back their service until the last possible moment at age 28, but note that this is still considered late for the average citizen. (Most men go off to do their service either after high school or university, so 28-year-old enlistees are actually the exception to the general rule.)
According to Lee’s management, he had been making preparations for his next project when he received his sudden draft notice. As the project in consideration was in pre-casting stages, it won’t have any negative repercussions, and it’s probably wise to go now when he’s in between commitments rather than risk complications later, as fellow actors Kim Nam-gil and Lee Jun-ki encountered. (The latter had to quit a movie mid-shoot, and a new actor had to be hired to step in. The former, as you know, is currently struggling to finish filming on his drama Bad Guy before he leaves.)
Lee, who took a stage name purposely to deflect attention away from his famous older sister (Kim Tae-hee), debuted in 2004′s Stairway to Heaven, then took a bigger role in its sorta-spinoff Tree of Heaven. He followed that with dramas Insoon is Pretty and Swallow the Sun.
According to his rep, sister Kim Tae-hee is currently in Jeju Island to shoot her movie Grand Prix, and is extremely disappointed that she won’t be able to see her brother off; the suddenness of his draft did not give her the time to work around her work schedule.
See you in two years, Lee Wan!
Via Asia Economy
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wait, so how many fans?
I thought it was a spoiler and had to “highlight” it. hmm….strange.
*sigh* I know that the military service is mandatory,but that doesn’t make the departure any easier for me.
I will always remember Lee Wan as the first Korean actor that made me “wow, he’s CUTE” First saw him in a little drama called Snow White(Taste Sweet Love )w/ Kim Jung Hwa. The plot wasn’t good and neither was his acting, but *sigh*, I like him so..(And of course his acting has since improved)
Good Luck…come back to your fans soon…
I’m just depressed.I love Lee Wan. Though I have seen him in a few of his roles I really respect him as an actor. Anyone who can make me hate them as much as I hated his character in Swallow the Sun deserves an Award! Deuces and kisses. See you in two years.
He looks soo happy it makes me happy.
i did not think he look like his sister kim tae hee previously, but now after looking at the pictures, i think he resembles so much like his sister!
and yes korean celebrities really postponed their military service to such late years at 28, and i’m glad that lee wan decided to go in earlier. i’m like, actually it makes no sense to postpone the military service as isn’t it better to finish the service earlier and then concentrate fully on acting later on?
awww man…there goes another one…i get that its mandatory but why so early for him?…would have liked to see him in at least a couple more projects before he left…o well….see in you in a couple of years
Le Wan answered my post on Face Book this morning…never knew…very sweet young man. See you in two years…stay healthy.
very few SK actors look good in their army buzz cut, Lee Wan is one of them.
I’ve been wondering about something. How exactly the draft notice procedure like? Is it on random? Or according to age?
oh dear…another cutie off to military camp… hmmmm when i visit Korea I think I’ll go to all the military camps…why? COZ ALL THE HOT GUYS ARE THERE…HEHEHE
aww bye bye lee wan.
he’s so cute
he looks good and fit and ready!
@9 ditdut
I was wondering the same thing. Why are there so many “surprise” or unexpected notices? You’d think there is a set procedure for men to enlist. Sometimes it sounds as if it’s an arbitrary decision on the military’s part (with respect to famous actors, anyway).
This may be a good idea for a pop culture lesson:)
awwwww i’ll miss lee wan. i first saw him in “Tree of Heaven” (one of my very first kdramas!!) with a young Park Shin Hye and I’ve adored him ever since. But I’ll patiently wait 2 years for his return… boy looks good with a shaved head!!
Oh awww! =)
I’ve NEVER forget watching that drama “Sweet Taste Love” (my first time watching that drama) and this Korean actor Lee Wan made me so fascinating cuz’ of his eyes and expression face that he really look like resemble to his big sister Kim Tae Hee — but I love both of them! ^_____^
I still loooovvvvveee Lee Wan = EVER!!!! Okay, Lee Wan, do your well at military service and take care of your health, yupz!
Fighting & SEE YA IN 2 YEARS!!!! =)
Ohh…………(sad puppy pouts) LEE WAN………………..
……….I can’t believe that he will able to go to military service so earlier, that’s good, hmm! I really admire my first-time Korean actor Lee Wan since I had seen him in that drama “Sweet Taste Love”, but it’s still best, of course!
Lee Wan — FIGHTING! (winks)
I really like him in “Tree of Heaven.”
Sighhh.
See you in two years, Lee Wan!!!
I have always loved him. The best of luck to you Lee Wan. We will miss you!!
I loved him in Tree of Heaven. I hope when he comes back he’ll get more projects, I really want to see him as the main lead again! Good Luck Lee Wan! (:
first saw him in stairway to heaven.his cute in swallow the sun.i love him in boys dont cry.and now your leaving.gonna miss you.see yah in 2 yrs.goodluck andGOD BLESS
Too many male stars are going off for military service these days o.o
I watched him the first time in Swallow the Sun, had no impression at all.
Nothing special about his acting, didn’t move me. His look? Very average.
Lee Wan is looking very nice in the short hair cut…
haven’t see him a in drama for like the longest time…
Lee Wan is so handsome!!!!!!!!!!!!! i will wait for him to come back. hoping that: he will happy at nonsan army
Although, HE is whoever, HE is wherever, I still love him. In my heart LEEWAn is all! He is the first man and finally man too who i love. and when will LEEWAN know that thing??? Lw, do you know my feeling? I NEED YOU.
I FIRST SAW LEE WAN IN THE DRAMA INSOON IS PRETTY, I THOUGHT HE WAS A GOOD ACTOR, THEN I WATCHED HIM IN TREE OF HEAVEN, HE WAS AMAZING IN THAT DRAMA, IT MADE ME CRY ALOT. IT IS A VERY TOUCHING DRAMA. I ALSO SAW HIM IN A LOVE TO KILL. I LOVE THAT DRAMA. I THINK HE IS A GREAT ACTOR AND WILL BE MISSED, BUT IM SURE WE WILL SEE HIM IN MANY OTHER DRAMAS IN THE FUTURE.
I watched tree of heaven recently, Lee wan and park shin hye have a good chemistry! I love both of them.. I hope they will do another drama or film when Lee wan come back from military service.