Military service

The length depends on where a person serves.¹ Most idols serve as active-duty soldiers in the Army. Some are assigned to social service instead, usually for health reasons, and work at a public office or facility while living at home.

Idols who join a military band are still Army soldiers and serve the Army length.

Men are expected to enlist by 28, with deferrals for study running out at the same age.¹ Postponements can push enlistment later, and a 2020 amendment lets pop artists who have received an Order of Cultural Merit, on the culture minister's recommendation, postpone until 30.² Members of the same group often enlist within a few months of each other.

Service applies to South Korean citizens. A dual citizen who keeps Korean citizenship serves like anyone else, and one who gives it up does not.¹ Vernon of SEVENTEEN was born in New York and holds both American and Korean citizenship, so he serves.³ Members who hold only another citizenship, such as Mark of NCT, who is Canadian, are not conscripted.⁴

Soldiers do not take part in group promotions. Agencies usually release photos, videos or songs recorded before enlistment so there is something to post during the gap. Groups either continue with the remaining members or pause until everyone is back.

Discharge dates are estimates until they happen. Leave, rule changes and early release for health reasons can move them by weeks.

Each period of service is a status on the person's profile with a start date, an expected end date when one has been announced, and the news story that reported it. While it is open the profile shows Military service under the name, and the group page marks the member as serving. When a story reports the discharge, the real end date replaces the open status and the person returns to the active lineup.

The lists on this page come from those statuses. If one is wrong, suggest an edit on the person's profile.