Choi Jin Hyuk Chooses Active Duty

[imienazwisko.livejournal.com]

Earlier this year it was reported that actor Choi Jin Hyuk would serve out his two-year mandatory military service as a conscripted policeman in the Seoul Police Public Relations Unit. But the actor has changed his mind.

His agency, Redbrick House, says that he opted out of serving in the police public relations unit and will instead serve as an active duty soldier.

Since the actor passed the examination in March and has declined to serve in the police promotional unit, he is obligated to report for active duty as a regular soldier.

His enlistment date has not yet been confirmed, although it is said that he will enlist some time this year.

All Korean males must serve two years of military duty between the ages of 18 and 35. This can create a conflict for actors who are often at the height of their careers during this age span. Redbrick House said that Choi, 28, plans on enlisting this year but he wanted first to make the most of his heightened popularity and appear in a few more productions.

Since he caught the public's attention by playing the demon Gu Wol Ryung in the 2013 drama "Gu Family Book," the actor has been a sought after commodity. He followed that drama with a role as Lee Min Ho's older brother in the 2013 hit drama "The Heirs." In 2014 he appeared with Song Ji Hyo in "Emergency Couple" and also had a role in "Flower Grandpa Investigation Unit." He currently plays international designer Daniel Pitt in the romantic comedy "Fated To Love You" with Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara.

Redbrick did not say why Choi Jin Hyuk changed his mind about serving in the police promotional unit.

The majority of celebrity recruits previously fulfilled their obligatory two-year military service in the Defense Media Agency, a special promotional unit of the armed forces. That unit was abolished last year after criticism of the special treatment that stars often received and celebrity recruits were then told they would be assigned to active duty. Serving in the police promotional unit offers an alternative way to fulfill military duty but the option also received some criticism, as many people felt that celebrities should be subject to the same military duty as anyone else.

It is not known whether Choi Jin Hyuk was subject to any of that criticism or whether that prompted him to opt out of this service alternative.
source: kdramastars

Comments

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I woudn't be surprised if the bad reactions made him change his mind
He's an actor, public opinion is very important to his career

[kittyboo17.livejournal.com]

yes, you choose well oppa !!

[mangotae.livejournal.com]

just do it oppa, i don't need him getting hate

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

Better for your career

[hearttaek.livejournal.com]

Smart choice!
Now i can root for your career again!

[torontok.livejournal.com]

Smart move considering the general hatred for non-active duty soldiers.

[marsinblue.livejournal.com]

Good for you oppa!
He's avoiding being the villain in real life, but I seriously hope that he takes on a villain role once he's back. I can so picture him mixing evilness with snark and dark humour.

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

He looks so much older, I thought he already went.

[seroquels.livejournal.com]

Good choice dude, better this than the backlash that would come if you hadn't.

[suxaholic.livejournal.com]

the backlash is not as bad as people think when it comes to celebrities getting easy jobs in the military. Those who do active duty though will have a better image when they come back and the transition to work will be far easier

[vforvera.livejournal.com]

For a second there, I thought the article was saying he had enlisted and I was like NOOOOOOO Don't leave us yet, you sexy beast!

But YAY, this is GOOD for him. Manning up and going the active duty route is so much better than wimping out and taking the easy route of the Defense Media Agency that so many entertainment people do.

I knew he said he had wanted to do the promotional unit initially because he would get opportunities to practice live stage play, but I had to admit that with someone of his physical specimen to not go active duty was strange as well.

From his fan forums, I wasn't getting the impression that he was receiving backlash for his initial decision to join the promo unit in Korea because they had only reported that he had passed the health screening for the promo unit. If his agency had a hand in his decision, I could only imagine Redbrick's CEO aka Jung Woo Sung probably was like, NO, take active duty.

Whatever reason it was that made him change his mind, I just know I'm gonna miss this smexy beast when he actually enlists and that I hope he has a couple new projects up his sleeve, like please be the lead in a new drama because I can't stand seeing you in the 2nd lead where I know your character's heart will be crushed causing me to have massive 2nd lead syndrome symptoms.

Thankfully he does have a "international" movie up his sleeve that he secretly filmed in Japan.

[kjc48.livejournal.com]

Proud of him. (If he wasn't gonna go with active duty he should be like LMK and just quietly enlist without making a fuss.) Be safe, don't die, and pull a HB/YSH.

[ohlookshiny.livejournal.com]

good job tbh bc when he delayed enlisting to do fated to love you ppl were p pissed.