EXO member Kai begins military service, disrupting group's comeback plans

Provided by SM Entertainment

The seventh member of the popular South Korean boy band EXO, Kim Jong-in, better known as Kai, has begun his mandatory military service. He will serve as an alternative social worker after undergoing basic military training at a boot camp.

The announcement was made by the group's management agency, SM Entertainment, who also stated that they would not disclose the specific time and place of Kai's admission in order to respect his desire for privacy. The agency also requested the cooperation of Kai's fans in not organizing any official event to mark his enlistment.

Kai's enlistment comes as a surprise to fans, as the group was preparing for its first full-unit comeback in five years with Baekhyun's return from military service. During a fan meeting in Seoul on Tuesday, Kai expressed his disappointment in not being able to participate in the comeback but reassured fans that he would be back in less than two years and ready to make music with the group again.

Kai is the seventh member of EXO to enlist in the military, following Xiumin, D.O., Suho, Chen, Baekhyun, and Chanyeol. South Korean men aged between 18 and 28 are required to serve around two years in the military, as part of the country's mandatory conscription policy aimed at bolstering national defense. K-pop stars, despite their busy schedules and global fame, are not exempt from this requirement.

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Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com