Top Young Actor Secretly Enlists In The Military

BY JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines - Top young Korean drama actor Yo Seung Ho, 20, secretly entered the Korean military on March 5, catching his fans by surprise.

Yo Seung Ho enlisted at an army camp in Chuncheon in Gangwon province accompanied by his family and CEO of his agency.

Fans only learned of his enlistment when he posted a message and video on his fan cafe.

Photos by www.newsen.com

All able-bodied Korean men are required to serve in the military for almost two years.

Korean stars usually enlist in the military in their late 20s but for Yo Seung Ho, it seemed that he decided that it was best for him to be in the military at a young age.

Yo Seung Ho's last project was the Korean drama "Missing You," which aired from November last year to January.

Last December, he announced that he would be enlisting after the airing of the drama but did not give any specific date.

Celebrities who enlisted in the military usually announced that date so that their fans could see them off.

In his video message and post, Yo Seung Ho told fans that he was sorry he didn't tell them about the date of his enlistment.

"I′ve come to enter the army on March 5 without telling anyone. I′ll be saying goodbye through this video. I′ll take care. I′m sorry I've entered the army without letting [my fans] know of the date," he wrote in the post. I just thought going quietly would be the best way to avoid causing an inconvenience to the other men of the armed forces," he said, according to ENewsWorld.

He said he became stressed in the last 10 years so he decided to enlist.

"I′ve become stressed while acting for over 10 years, so I thought I would like to leave behind my repetitive life for a change. I wanted to experience something new. I′ll work hard during my two years of service and I′ll see you after I′m released. Please don′t forget about me until then!" he added.

Yo Seung Ho debuted in the entertainment scene in 2002 through the drama "Daddy Fish."

Among his dramas include "Arang and the Magistrate," "Operation Proposal," "Warrior Baek Dong-soo," "Master of Study," "Flames of Desire" and "Queen Seondeok," for which he won the male newcomer award in the 2009 MBC Drama Awards.

Yo Seung Ho joins other Korean celebrities who are currently serving in the army including Super Junior's Leeteuk and Heechul, pop star Rain and actors Lee Je Hoon and Ji Hyun Woo.

Rain and Heechul will be discharged from the military this year.

Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin Online: http://beonline.com.ph/article.php?id=1304&Cid=4&PPid=0