I kind of love the image above, drawn up by fans depicting a combat boot shackled (with love!) to a traditional woman’s gomushin shoe. (The poster is one of many produced by his fan club Ever Jo Hyun-jae, and the words above the shoe-couple read “We’ll always be together~” Kind of creepy, no?, but in an amusing way, I suppose.)
Actor Lee Kyun (Dasepo Naughty Girls, Hello Franceska; real name Yang Sang-mo) is acting as PR rep for military enlistment while serving his term himself.
On July 23, he participated in a “conversation with junior recruits,” sharing his personal experiences with the young men who’d arrived to undergo their initial physical examinations (to determine fitness for military duty). He gave advice and took questions about his life in army service as well as the entertainment sphere.
They must really be pushing for positive spin; reportedly Lee Kyun encouraged each young man who’d been deemed fit for active duty with a “Congratulations,” though I’m sure more would prefer to be dismissed from this particular civic obligation. He went on to explain that he could see the difference from seven years ago when he’d received his physical exam, in that the process has become more scientific and transparent (to avoid rampant claims of corruption and unfairness, no doubt). He explained his role as being one small part in raising awareness of the changes in the conscription process and promoting a climate of proud military service.
Still, it’s unlikely any amount of publicity and spin will make the mandatory duty any more palatable to the men who serve. And they may crack down on falsified exemptions, but there will always be those — mostly the rich and/or famous — who attempt to finagle their way out of service (ahem, Psy, Song Seung-heon, Jang Hyuk, and others).
Jae Hee just received his papers, so he’s enlisting for mandatory military service on August 5.
He’s currently busy filming a KBS drama, Hometown of Legends [전설의 고향] and has a film still to come out; Jae Hee explained that he was a little taken aback that the enlistment date was so near, with all the work he has planned, but he doesn’t plan to defer the date.
His upcoming movie, fantasy-action thriller Mandate (directed by Park Hee-jun, Raging Bull [성난 황소]), tells the story of the battle between a “ghost hunter” and the demon of serial killers he hunts. The movie releases in September, and Jae Hee is scheduled to begin official promotional activities next month, although his service date doesn’t leave him much time to do that. (Let’s just hope he doesn’t fall prey to that ubiquitous OverworkedCelebritySyndrome.)
Actor and hip-hop artist Yang Dong Geun (29) has surprised many with the belated disclosure that he recently began his military service; he enlisted on May 6, but the information wasn’t released till just recently, along with a picture of him in training (to right).
A source explained that he’d wanted to begin his training quietly, and kept it a secret from even his friends; he was only sent off by his mother and manager.
Most recently, Yang Dong Geun starred in the drama series I Am Sam (he’s appeared in numerous films and dramas, such as Ruler of Your Own World and Dr. Kkang, as well as putting out four hip-hop albums). He’d planned for the film I-tal (Secession) to be his last project, but ended up canceling those plans and enlisting instead. He’d received his enrollment papers in January, but had put off service because he was in the midst of film talks. Apparently he’d finally decided enough was enough, and that he would rather get his service over quickly than postponing further to squeeze in more projects.
The actor recently starred in the film GP506 (which the above pic is from; it’s not a real army pic) and currently stars in the new drama Three Dads, One Mom (for which I’m holding off judgment till I see the second episode — I wasn’t wowed by the first, but first episodes are so unpredictable).
He recently began his military service on the 1st, but has now just been released from training after only four days. That in itself is not terribly strange:
“According to military service law, if one is found to be unfit for active duty following a physical examination, due to disease or mental or physical disorder, or requires more than fifteen days’ recovery time for said condition, said person may be dismissed.”
What IS weird, though, is the fact that is just becoming known that Jo Hyun Jae left in the middle of filming a drama to enlist in his military service — and upon his dismissal after four days, immediately returned to filming. Something’s fishy over in Three Dads territory. (I don’t know the specifics of Three Dads, but generally a drama begins filming anywhere from a month to several months in advance. A trendy drama that doesn’t require excessive preparation — unlike, say, an epic or high-budget production like Legend — may typically have about eight episodes completed when the series begins airing. It is definitely weird to have started military service in the middle of a project.)
The situation is starting to stir up lots of suspicion and criticism — if he suffers from a severe enough condition to prevent him from training, how can he be fit enough to film a drama? — which is not helped by the fact that the drama producers have offered “no explanation, and have evaded questions” about the topic. Furthermore, prior to Jo’s enlistment, the producers had been unusually hush-hush about his impending service date.
Some of Jo Hyun Jae’s fans are supporting their star, casting aspersions on the validity of the news reports, but a majority of them agree that things look suspicious.
The mandatory-military-service topic is always a source of major debate, and a definite hot-button issue. Everyone knows that effing around with draft-dodging schemes in Korea is serious, career-damaging (if not career-ending) business. Methinks he’s got some ’splainin’ to do.
Lexy - “Tonight” featuring House Rulez from her new album. I know Lexy’s more of a hip-hop and R&B girl, but I’m not really into her usual style. But you guys know I love me some House Rulez.
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On July 23, he participated in a “conversation with junior recruits,” sharing his personal experiences with the young men who’d arrived to undergo their initial physical examinations (to determine fitness for military duty). He gave advice and took questions about his life in army service as well as the entertainment sphere. 
