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Enlistments on the horizon for Yoo Ah-in, Choi Jin-hyuk

Say it ain’t so! Well, it’s no wonder Yoo Ah-in has been packing his schedule in the early months of 2014; the actor, currently shooting the noona romance Secret Love Affair with Kim Hee-ae, is also slated to appear in the upcoming movie Veteran and is said to be considering Min Kyu-dong’s flick Hundred Years’ War.

Choi Jin-hyuk, currently shooting Emergency Couple, has also been working up a storm. It turns out both actors have completed the physical exam and interview for admittance to Seoul Police Special Promotions Unit, which is a special division established for celebrities needing to complete mandatory military service. After five weeks of rigorous physical training, eligible actors and singers commit to nearly two years of service as part of the unit, reaching out to young folks by way of performances and concerts, in the name of causes such as discouraging school violence and kidnapping prevention. Hot, talented actors/singers delivering messages in uniform — pretty effective strategy, I’d say.

Among the list of candidates who also passed the initial entrance requirements to join the special division to Seoul Metropolitan Police are singers Sungmin (Super Junior) and Sungje (Supernova). However, there are still final acceptance procedures that need to be completed, and due to everyone’s varying schedules, enlistments have not been confirmed. Evidently the admittance date is a little flexible, but if Choi Jin-hyuk and Yoo Ah-in enlist this year, they would likely begin training sometime between May and August, after present filming obligations end. Celebrities currently serving as members of the special police force are Lee Je-hoon (Paparotti, Fashion King), Kim Dong-wook (The Royal Concubine, Romantic Heaven), and SS501’s Heo Young-saeng.

Via My Daily, X Sports News

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Oh my delicious babies, hurry back!

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OM NOM NOM.

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Nooo!!

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I thought Choi Jin Hyuk finished his military service already!!

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I did too! I remember seeing him as the second lead in Panda and Hedgehog, and then I guess I just assumed he went to the military. I think I also thought PaH was a 2011 drama...oops.

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I assumed that too, because he kinda looks old for his age!

I remember when he went on RM and Kwangsoo joked that Choi Jin Hyuk had the same (old) face as him. Haha

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LOL...his matured face, this young hot dude just turned 28!

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Ok, I thought I was the only one who thought Choi Jin-hyuk had completed his service.

Don't know where I got that idea, but apparently I've thought that for like the past 2 yrs. ..... obviously I was wrong.

We'll miss them.

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if anything, 2 years actually passes by real fast nowadays. i can still remember the db post about Lee Je Hoon enlisting and I think he'll be discharged this year.

but still, Yoo Ah In. We'll miss you!

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Those two years have been FOR-E-VER. Oh my Lee Je-hoon.

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Agree. He can't come back fast enough T.T

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There are only so many times I can re-watch Bleak Night. I'm just praying that he picks a drama as his comeback project, one which requires abs scenes, lots and lots of abs scenes.

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Lee Jae Hoon is also serving in this special unit. Chance for having good abs, is it still there? p

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Sad to see them go, but I can't believe after the celeb solider backlash anyone would do a special promo unit instead of doing real military service and gaining a good image forever. I guess they figured people forgot already?

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What about physicial/health problem? We don't know why they passed the exam in this unit.

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I'm pretty sure that's what public service is for, if you have health issues. This is a different unit all together.

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Thi is what special unit of police does http://www.wikitree.co.kr/main/news_view.php?id=159774
I don't think this bad. Every citizen serves their country with different kind of works too. Not all men should do the combat in the front line. I don't think people who do social services like these polices are less honorable than those who lift the weapons.

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What they do is nice, but it's still the easy way out to a lot of people. It seems like something people with health issues or injuries who can't actively enlist could do instead. It's fine if they do it, but you can see how people who actually did actively enlist or have family members who did would look down on them. While other celebs have joined before, this many makes it seem like there is a danger of it becoming the same thing the celeb unit was.

Though this is at least open to every male, not just a select few so it is different from the celeb unit.

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So special police unit is different/not celebrity unit that most people think of.

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I know some people might afraid this will turn out to a celebrity unit. But the article indicates that the Seoul Police did the test first and these actors just passed the initial entrance requirements. There are still final acceptance procedures that need to be completed. It means, this is a serious job, not everyone can easily join this new unit and these celebrities might fail the test too. Doing military service to get a good image is okay, but doing this social service (without afraid of losing image) is a good deed too. Lee Jae Hoon and Park Ki Woon are serving in this unit too.

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I was REALLY hoping for them in a motorcycle unit: those jodhpurs, high motorcycle boots, leather jackets...aviator sunglasses...h-h-h-handc-c-cuffsss...
*dead*

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I wonder at that too. After the 7even (& the other guy, I forget who) incident, I thought the military was going to "fix the system" more so celebrity treatment would be about the same as the everyman, which seemed reasonable to me. I wonder if they get treated like pansies by the "actual" soldiers and what not. If I were a dude I'd be too embarrassed to just do promo stuff, despite the good cause. Phew, glad I'm not; as if peer-pressure wasn't debilitating enough lol.

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I agree that it's extremely unfair to give celebrities special military service duties. What if the country were actively involved in a war? Then would ordinary men have to risk their lives fighting on the front while celebrities get safe, non-combat duties? If so, that's just ridiculous.

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Frankly, that women don't have mandatory service puts the whole thing into question for me.

If there's a war, that's half your population untrained. The handful of not-fully-trained celebrities is the least of your problems.

Just my admittedly ill-informed opinion.

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I don't have any well informed opinion about whether women should also have mandatory service. But either way, I think this special treatment for celebrities is really unfair. And given how most of the country there feels about it, the celebrity special treatment could hurt military morale if other soldiers feel like they're being discriminated against or forced to do hard labor or fight on the front line just because they are not celebrities.

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Well, just like in actual war not everyone is going to go out and fight so not everyone needs to be trained. You do need people to stay home and keep things running. Over the years some have tried to get rid of conscription or at least shorten it, so there is no way they'd add women having to join.

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I agree that special treatment for celebrities could well swing back on them. Because it's unfair when everyone else is doing their due.

Though it sounds like this particular unit has a specific job that performers are well suited for. And it also sounds like it's not something every celebrity gets. You have to... qualify? Get lucky? Something like that.

I recall that if you have a special skill -- mechanic, etc. -- you can get into a unit that allows you to live at home and report for duty like it's a job. (Per What's Up Fox... and I think Ask A Korean?) So there's obviously various levels of service and some are crappier than others.

@lemondoodle: Yeah, you're right. Not everyone's going to be front lines. And I strongly doubt women would ever get added to the conscription, too.

But that women don't even have a "gentler" training for providing "behind-the-lines" support... I don't know. I mean, if war does break out, N.Korea ain't that far away. It's not like there'd be much of a home front to run. I figure it'd all be war zone of one sort or another. So it's always struck me as kind of curious that there isn't something.

(This is, of course, purely theoretical and I'm really, really uninformed. This is just something I've been thinking about from time to time. Very "arm-chair philosophizing" going on here.)

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Most celebrities are in pretty amazing shape too, and should deal with the physical demands of regular army corps.

Plus, if they've spent their lives as trainees, then they should be used to being told what to wear, when to get up, minimal food and intense exercise.

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lololol@your second sentence :)

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No, they're still pretty pissed.:

http://netizenbuzz.blogspot.com/2014/02/yoo-ah-in-sungmin-and-sungje-get.html

Although I don't think this news is causing the outrage it would have right on the heels of the Se7en/Sangchu/Rain scandal last year, so I guess its salience as a public issue has decreased a bit. We'll have to see if the story snowballs after they're finally and officially accepted into the unit, or if the public is just sort of resigned to the unequal treatment.

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Wow that was scathing. I mean, I might disagree with the unfairness but such hate from people so removed from it all is kinda wrong. My interest stems from how the other soldiers feel but some these people seem to take a personal affront. Where exactly does everyone else (the non-celebrity soldiers) go and do for their stint in the army?

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I know some people might afraid this will turn out to a celebrity unit. But the article indicates that the Seoul Police did the test first and these actors just passed the initial entrance requirements. There are still final acceptance procedures that need to be completed. It means, this is a serious job, not everyone can easily join this new unit and these celebrities might fail the test too. Doing military service to get a good image is okay, but doing this social service (without afraid of losing image) is a good deed too.

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Then the government should be fair and allow everyone to do "social deeds."

I really admire Won Bin and Hyun Bin for turning down this special treatment stuff.

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I don't see this is a special treatment stuff. AFAIK the government allows everyone to do this 'social deeds' as long as you have the requirements they need.

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I don't understand ,the reason why there is mandatory military service is because of conflict between north korea and the whole danger of war scare.
If there is a entertainment unit what's the purpose!? Why mandatory military service anyway!?

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Am I wrong!?

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My heart is in pain...

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Think it should be the last year for most of the 85, 86 and 87 guys. I was looking at the list announced at the end of last year and SO many of them are due to enlist - Seung-gi, Yoochun, Lee Min-ho, Kim Hyun-joong, Joo Won, Jang Geun-suk, Jung Il-woo, Seo In-guk... Along with CJH and YAI. Anyone have more names? Lol so many! It's gonna be so empty since all these guys are such leading stars with most of them having A status. It's going to be quite empty in 2015/2016.

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This List omg seriously I'm not going to survive next year ........ I can't deallll U also have Jaejoong and Taceyeon I think hopefully not

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Hm... Yoo Shi Yoon is an 86er I think. I'm sure there are more. The list is long. They better not leave all at the same time, we'll have no young leading men for dramas. There's so many idols too like Siwon or Yunho.

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I'm guessing the absence of the '86-87ers will lead to some younger actors getting their step forward as leading men/continuing on that career path, if they're already there (translation: I predict lots of Lee Jong-seok, Kang Haneul, Kim Soo-hyun, and last but not least, Kim Woo-bin doing very well for themselves)

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2015/2016 shall be Yeo Jin Gu's years to steal even more hearts with all the older hot stars gone for duty. Plus, he'll be legal by then :)! There really is a silver lining to everything.

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I didn't even try listing the idols. That would take a whole page in itself lol. Taecyeon, on the other hand, is an 89 kid. So if you're counting that, then there's Kim Woo-bin, Lee Jong-suk, Kim Soo-hyun (88). But they'll probably leave around the time these guys come back.

I didn't know YSY is that old! He looks 20, and I don't know much about him so that's surprising.

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Taecyeon is also an '88 kid, but late '88 though as he was born in December. :)

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More Woobie for me, then.

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Nah. The deadliest deadline for them to enlist is when they're 29 (30 in Korean age). This year is the deadline for the 85ers like Lee Minki. The 86ers and 87ers can still hold off for a year or two, though it's better to just go finish military service already.

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Nope. Pretty certain most of them would leave this year end of the first half of next year depending on the month of their birthdays. Most of these guys are top hallyu stars and no one wants to get negative publicity by putting off enlistment till the last minute. Song Joong-ki left last year even if he was an 85er. Most of the 86 and early 87ers would probably be off soon too.

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Super Junior's Donghae, Eunhyuk, and Siwon are 86ers and their names aren't even part of the speculated upcoming enlistments. Seems like SM will have them push the deadline for next year, what with 2 members (Shindong and Sungmin) leaving this year. At least the idols would be pushing the deadline as long as they could. The actors could, too, depending on whether they have projects or not.

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Ha, Shindong might even get abs!

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I think since Siwon's registered birthday year is 1987 he can probably hold off a bit longer compared to Hyuk? DongHae and Siwon can have enlistment dates closer together though.

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Gee, reading that list I'm seriously happy I'm a JJS fangirl and therefore I don't need to fear the dreaded enlistment... ._.

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It’s going to be quite empty in 2015/2016.

Not really, watch the '88/'89ers clean up the scene in the absence of the '87er big guns (to say nothing of the returning '84/'85-ers - Song Joong Ki! - and Yoo Seung-ho)

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Other than KWB, KSH and LJS; I can't quite think of many in leading men status. So other than the older guys who almost always sticks to movies unless something great comes their way, there aren't much options. I'm sure a few will step up, but the 87ers enlisting consist of some huge names who've established themselves since 2009/2010 so from how I see it, the industry is definitely gonna be empty. But in 2 years time, the competition on who's comeback would be better is exciting to lookout for.

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A lot could change in two years. There are definitely some talented actors in the wings who've got themselves noticed but not graduated to network TV leads yet - Kang Haneul, Sung Joon etc. are definitely in the running for stepping into lead roles some day.

Korea has enough acting talent across those age ranges that the void has every chance of being filled, if those actors are given the opportunity.

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Hmm..their agency stated the time isn't uncertain yet. And the Seoul Metropolitan spokeperson said it might not be this year. So let's hope we can still enjoy their works at least till 2014 gone.

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Sorry for double comments, JB. But my first comment wouldn't appear until I refresh your site. Hence, I rewrote again.

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Their agency said the enlist time time isn't certain yet. And the police spokeperson said the enlistment date might not be this year. So let's hope they still can complete all their works and we can still see them before 2014 ends.

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So if there just doing performances and concerts, why do they always come back...different? More manlier and mature? I'm befuddled. Also, yea Yoo Ah-In I can see, but whaa? Choi Jin Hyuk surprised me.

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Very tears. Much sad!

No, seriously )': I will miss them!!!

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So Lee Je Hoon should be discharged around his birthday(July)?! It's been too long, very excited that he is getting out in a matter of a few months!

I am glad Yoo Ah-in is working a lot just before going, talk about fan service. :-)

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Enlistment is on the horizon for all of the 2nd generation Kpop stars and the young leading actors born in the mid/late 80s. Most of the actors are starting to gain success, and now everything is going to be put on hold for them and me since I won't be able to see them in any dramas/movies for 2 years. :( It's the end of an era and I don't know how I'll survive it. The only thing I can hope for is that some great, new talent can be discovered for me to enjoy in the Korean entertainment industry. LOL

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Can someone please explain the special policies for celebrities and Korean enlistment? Because earlier I remember reading here than when Song Joon Ki joined the army he was the first celebrity to join after some new policy was enacted that celebrities wouldn't get special treatment?

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Song Joongki was the first celeb to enlist after the "celebrity unit," or whatever it's real name is, was abolished. That celeb unit was part of the active duty soldiers where they go sing, dance, and entertain the troops. They did musicals (like Joo Jihoon and Leeteuk and Ji Hyunwoo), they had a variety show going around different army bases (like Lee Dongwook, Boom, Andy, Tony an, etc,) they did PR work all around Korea to promote the army (like Lee Junki did). Others in that group are Rain, Se7en, etc. They got more days off, and a lot if other perks that normal soldiers don't get.

People got pissed Rain was caught dating Kim Taehee while on his many days off. Then Se7en and rapper Sangchu got caught going to a massage parlor after a performance and even assaulted the reporter who caught them. Then the celeb unit got abolished months ago.

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There are also rumors that Lee Min Ho, Jang Geun Suk, Seo In Guk, Yoon Shi Yoon, Lee Seung Gi, Park Yoo Chun and Kim Jae Joong are going to enlist soon. By the end of this year or the beginning of the next year.

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Jyj (if all plans to through) is set to release an album late this year. So enlistment might be early next year.

Yoochun might be the one who will try so hard to enlist even if he keeps failing his physical. Le sigh. Knetizens are just so hard on him. I think YC already failed his physical twice, correct me if I'm wrong...

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For some reason I seem to remember an announcement long ago that he wouldn't have to enlist. Not long after SS501 broke up. I may be wrong but It came to me as soon as I read your post.

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he's def enlisting
but public service

he has chronic asthma so he doesnt qualify as active duty

jaejoong and junsu will probably enlist as regular soldiers

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I think Yoochun already passed a physical exam. Well, at least enough to enlist as a public service officer when his time comes. He's definitely not doing active duty like Jaejoong and Junsu would be doing.

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as sad as i am to see news of my faves enlisting and outt of my eyes/ears for 2 years i zeroed in on the mention of kim dong wook.... cause i will be such a happy gall once he is out this august... kim dong wookkk..... my king!!!

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2 years can pass by quickly, in the case of Hyun Bin & Rain. It feels like they came back in no time.

Or 2 years can be incredibly slow, in the case of Yoo Seungho. It feels like its been more than 2 years!!

And I dread the day that Kim Soohyun, Taecyeon & the rest of 2PM, Joowon, and Lee Seunggi will be taken from us :'(

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I really miss Yoo seung ho!! I want him back so BAD!!!

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Me too! I'm counting the days!

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Can't believe all those cuties in their late 20's are gearing for army enlistment in next couple years. For some, its perfect timing. For others, not so much. Hyun Bin timed it perfectly. When he finished serving i didn't even realize he'd been gone for 2 years since he was still pretty much mentioned in the news every now and then. Which is why i have no qualms for some of these guys who are such big stars with a large fan base so hardly a dent in their popularity.

On the upside, I'm really excited for Lee Hyun Woo's upcoming release from army because Yoo Inna deserves some more lovin' than she's getting in the 1 scene per episode in YFAS. Once YFAS wraps up it'll be in no time for him to come home and swoop her off her feet, Yoo Inna's Man style.

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Ji Hyun Woo's ** am i on crack or something? Sorry, YFAS makes me delirious nowadays.

Lee Hyun Woo is cute too. ;)

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Kim Boong Do! Fav Drama hero ever. Is he almost ready to be discharged?

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OUCH! I think I just felt my heart break.

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Choi Jin-hyuk!!! No! But... I just recently found out about you and now you're getting ready to leave??? I can't.

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Let's hope he packs in a movie and couple more dramas.

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HOW ABOUT KIM HYE-SEONG!? what happened to the babyfaced, completely legal pretty boy from jenny juno and high kick? :"(

He went to the army 4 years ago, I'm still waiting for his comeback movie/drama.... sigh.

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Sigh! Korean army always take away my boys.... The silver lining is that they always come back HOTTER..... Joong Ki come back soon! I'll miss bad boy Yoo Ah In, my cheona :-(

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Ok Lee Kwang Soo, now is your chance to become a leading man! I'm only half serious (but completely serious).

I remember when I got into KDramas. I had just finished watching My Girl, and I was all, where is this Lee Dong Wook dude at? Then I found out about this mandatory service, and I shed a single KDrama tear. I believe it was the left side. I think I will shed a tear on the right when T.O.P. enlists.

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I would looove to be a (female) officer in this celebrity unit. And think about the drama possibilities. THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN. Also, ARE there women in the SK military? Surely there are...

I'm going to miss both of these guys - but wish them luck and speedy returns to the screens! - but when Park Yoochun leaves... I'm going to run down the street wailing and tearing at my clothes. I remember when Chun Jung-Myung went off to the military - he was my first Korean actor crush - I was so upset and wasn't familiar with how actors and idols dealt with their military leaves in terms of their careers. Even now that I know 2 years away isn't forever in Korean entertainment (usually), I still don't know how I'll cope without him for that long in a drama.

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Of course, there are there women in SK military. They are professional soldiers.

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oh why oh why?!?!? we just started with choi jinhyuk...it's totally been his year since last year...and now he's ....leaving?!!? why does a girl have to go through this every year?!?!

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Sigh and I haven't seen enough of YAI yet. Loved him in Sungkyunkwan, and Jang Okjung but not so much the drama. I have yet to watch his movies. I need him in another crack drama before he goes!! I'll have to see how his upcoming drama fare.

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Oddly, I just watched Punch two days ago on Netflix...how's that for strange timing.

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Me tooo!!! what a freaky timing 0_o

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I am just bummed. I wish both had gotten this out of the way earlier rather than now when the are doing well. Ah well, ultimately this was their decision.

I am so going to miss CJH. Too bad he doesn't have more completed work to watch until he returns.

Do you think cheering up a bunch of bummed ajummas would be considered public service? No, too much of a stretch? Dang! *sigh*

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I'm actually kind of glad Yoo Ah-in and Song Joong-ki are overlapping like this. It means my dreams of them reuniting in a drama at some future point isn't that horribly far away.

Aaand, that's my shallow reaction to the news. :D

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Choi Jin Hyuk to schoolkids: be nice to each other! Schoolkids, stunned: OK....*mass fainting*
Schoolboy to Yoo ah-in: what´s up, bro? Yoo ah-in: my only bro is Song Joong-ki!

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So... YSH, does it mean he's coming back soon? HB timed his well as in he had all sorts of works being released after he enlisted and he was in the marines so I think theirs is shorter in length.

These guys can time it well too if they want to. :) 2 yrs does pass pretty quickly.

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In all fairness this whole "special unit" seems pretty unfair to the ordinary guys who don't get a choice between fun concerts and fanservice as opposed to actually training in the army...i mean, yeah, they're celebs and whatnot, but this is totally biased.

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this news breaks my Heart... will miss Choi Jin Hyuk...waaaaahhhhh

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Does anyone else think that the Seoul Police Special Promotions Unit is a terrible, terrible idea after all of the backlash the celebrity soldier unit received last year before getting abolished? I see the exact same thing happening with this new unit. It just makes me respect people like Yoo Seung Ho and Song Joong Ki that much more for not pussing out, though SJK obviously didn't have a choice to be a girl scouts unit like most celebrity soldiers.

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This sucks, but I understand that they need to do it. I'm not a fan of Yoo Ah-in, so I don't much care that he's leaving. But Choi Jin-hyuk! Just when his career is taking off, too! So sad, but Oppa, fighting!

Also, I had no idea Sungmin was enlisting. I mean, it makes sense, given that he's getting to that age, but still. Oppa, fighting! I'll miss any SUJU member who leaves or is gone now, but I understand that it is mandatory. I hope all SUJU members return safely!

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wait, JB I thought they took away the special programs for celebrities who are enlisting after the Rain, Se7en and what not scandal. No??

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Choi Jin Hyuk you will be missed :(

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