On June 14, Lee Jun-young personally announced his upcoming military enlistment on July 21 by sharing a handwritten letter on his personal social media account.
In the letter, Lee Jun-young shared, "Rather than having you hear the news through articles, I thought it would be better to tell you myself, which is why I am writing this." He added, "I will be enlisting on July 21."
He continued, "Until I learned my enlistment date, I kept thinking, 'Well, it's no big deal. I'll just go!' But once I actually received the date, I found myself having a lot on my mind for the first time in a while." He also expressed, "I spent a lot of time worrying about how to break this news to you all first. Now that I am writing this out word by word, my heart feels a little lighter. I will go and return in good health while staying true to myself."
Even with only about a month left before his enlistment, Lee Jun-young continues his relentless, hardworking streak. The JTBC Saturday-Sunday drama "Reborn Rookie", in which he stars as the lead, started with a 3.7% viewership rating for its premiere. Thanks to its tight plot development and the cast's stellar performances, the show has been breaking its own viewership records with every episode.
Playing the role of Hwang Jun-hyun—a character with the unique fantasy premise of having another person's soul enter his body—Lee Jun-young has received widespread acclaim. He masterfully delivers a delicate and convincing performance, serving as the solid anchor that drives the series forward.
Lee Jun-young's presence will continue to be felt even after his enlistment. His next project, "Four Hands", is scheduled for release this August, right after he enters the military. This release is expected to make his temporary absence, often referred to as a "military hiatus" or "gunbaekgi," virtually unnoticeable.
Furthermore, he has already completed filming for major upcoming projects, including the new Netflix series "Our Sticky Love" and the film "Handwritten", prior to his enlistment. As a result, he will continue to meet audiences on both the small and big screens throughout his military service.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)