The South Korean actor will enter the Korea Army Training Center on August 25 and temporarily step away from entertainment activities.
SEOUL: Known for his memorable performances in some of South Korea’s biggest drama hits, actor Kwak Dong-yeon is set to take a temporary break from the spotlight as he prepares to begin his mandatory military service later this month.
Kwak’s agency The Black Label confirmed on Tuesday that the actor will enlist as an active-duty soldier on August 25 and will enter the Korea Army Training Center without holding a separate farewell event.
“Kwak Dong-yeon will faithfully fulfill his mandatory military service,” the agency said in a statement.
After completing basic military training, the actor will be assigned to a unit to continue his service. Under South Korea’s mandatory military system, active-duty soldiers typically serve for around 18 months.
The enlistment will bring changes to Kwak’s current entertainment schedule. He will step away from tvN’s variety show “The Village Barber,” where he appeared alongside Park Bo-gum and Lee Sang-yi. Actor Ko Kyoung-pyo is expected to join the second season as his replacement.
Despite his upcoming enlistment, Kwak is reportedly making efforts to participate in the 10th-anniversary special of “Love in the Moonlight,” which is scheduled to be filmed in early August.
Kwak Dong-yeon entered the entertainment industry in 2012 with the KBS drama “My Husband Got a Family” and gradually built a strong reputation through diverse roles across television and streaming platforms.
The actor gained widespread recognition through popular dramas including “Love in the Moonlight” (2016), “Vincenzo” (2021), and “Queen of Tears” (2024).
Most recently, he appeared in the reality show “The Village Barber” and played a special role as the Crown Prince in Netflix’s dark fantasy series “The East Palace.”
As Kwak begins his military journey, fans are looking forward to his eventual return to the entertainment industry after completing his national service.
