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Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
K-Pop comebacks: All the South Korean celebrities returning from military service in 2025
South Korea's entertainment industry is experiencing a powerful resurgence in 2025 as several beloved celebrities return from their mandatory military service. With K-pop and K-drama stars known worldwide, fans have been counting down the days for their favourites to resume their careers. Military conscription is mandatory for all able-bodied South Korean men, typically before the age of 30, and even the most famous idols are no exception. This year marks the return of major stars — from members of BTS to rising actors — and their reentry into the spotlight is being celebrated across the globe. Actor Lee Do-hyun, best known for his roles in The Glory and 18 Again, completed his military service on May 13, 2025. He served in the Republic of Korea Air Force military band for 21 months. His agency, YUEHUA Entertainment Korea, confirmed that he's been flooded with project offers and is expected to return to acting soon. A post shared by 이도현 (@ldh_sky) The global phenomenon BTS is on the brink of a full-group reunion. Jin and J-Hope have already completed their service, while RM, V, Jimin, Jungkook, and Suga are set to be discharged throughout June 2025. V will be discharged on June 10, followed by Jungkook and Jimin on June 11, RM on June 10 as well, and Suga on June 21. With the countdown underway, fans worldwide are marking their calendars for what could be the biggest K-pop comeback in years. A post shared by BTS official (@ Sehun, the youngest member of EXO, began his service in December 2023 and will be discharged on September 20, 2025. A full-group fan meeting is already in discussion for later this year, as confirmed by EXO leader Suho. A post shared by SEHUN (@oohsehun) Known for Business Proposal and The Heavenly Idol, Kim Min-kyu began his service in April 2024 and is expected to be discharged by September 20, 2025. Fans are eager for his return to the screen. A post shared by 김민규 (@mingue.k) The Love Alarm and Nevertheless star joined the military after filming My Demon and is currently serving. He is expected to complete his duties by December 1, 2025. A post shared by 송강 (@songkang_b) As 2025 progresses, the return of these stars is not just a relief for fans — it signals a major wave of new music, drama, and excitement in Korean pop culture.
Hype Malaysia
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Korean Actor Lee Do Hyun Discharged From Military Service; Thanks Fans & Military Colleagues
With Korea's mandatory military service applied to all men in Korea for a period of 18 to 21 months, fans dread the fateful announcement for their favourite stars to be called into duty. But with every goodbye comes an even bigger welcome back for these stars! Actor Lee Do Hyun (이도현) was discharged yesterday (13th May 2025), from military service after serving for 21 months with the band of the Republic of Korea Air Force. He announced his discharge through an Instagram post with a picture of him smiling with a bouquet of flowers. He captions his post with gratitude towards fans and his military colleagues for their support throughout his journey. His caption reads, 'I'm relieved that I did my best in the military service without regrets! Thank you to all the fans who love and care for me, the military members of the Air Force Band, and the executives. I think I have discharged myself with happy memories and a good heart'. A heartfelt message marking the end of his military journey. The 30-year-old actor had first enlisted on 14th August 2023, where during the span of time had released 3 projects, namely 'Exhuma', 'Sweet Home 3' and 'Death's Game' during his enlistment period. His stellar performance in the horror film 'Exhuma' earned him the 'Best New Actor' award in the film category at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards, which he accepted whilst still in the military. Fans have a lot to look forward to as his agency, YUEHUA Entertainment Korea, shared yesterday (13th May 2025) that Do Hyun is already receiving casting offers for various dramas, films and many more. We wish actor Lee Do Hyun a big congratulations on his military discharge! Source: Soompi, Instagram Alyssa Gabrielle contributed to this article
India Today
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Lee Do-hyun discharged from military service: What's next for The Glory actor?
South Korean actor Lee Do-hyun has officially completed his mandatory military service. The 28-year-old was discharged on May 13, after serving for 21 months in the Republic of Korea Air Force, where he contributed as part of the military band. With this, he will now mark his much-awaited return to began his military duty on August 14, 2023, stepping away from public life just as his career was reaching a new peak. Yet, his presence on screens didn't wane. Thanks to a string of pre-filmed projects, Lee remained at the centre of attention. His haunting role in the supernatural box office hit 'Exhuma' earned him the Best New Actor (Film) award at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards, cementing his status as one of the most promising actors of his generation. advertisementAlongside Exhuma, the final season of Netflix's Sweet Home and the fantasy series Death's Game continued to fuel his popularity during his enlistment. Lee Do-hyun in Exhuma. With his return now official, Lee's agency, YUEHUA Entertainment Korea, confirmed that the actor has already been flooded with offers — ranging from dramas and films to endorsements and editorial the most talked-about proposals is a potential lead role in 'Grand Galaxy,' a new fantasy drama by the celebrated screenwriting duo the Hong Sisters (Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran). The series is positioned as a sequel to their 2019 hit 'Hotel Del Luna' — a show that played a crucial part in Lee's early career. He portrayed Go Chung-myung, a stoic royal guard whose tragic romance helped drive the series' emotional April, YUEHUA confirmed that Lee had received an offer to star in Grand Galaxy, though no official decision has been made. However, fans are hopeful — especially since the project could reunite him with long-time collaborator Go Min-si. Earlier reports had suggested Cha Eun-woo might join the cast, but that no longer seems to be happening. Meanwhile, production details on Grand Galaxy remain tightly under wraps, with casting reportedly still Watch
Korea Herald
09-05-2025
- Korea Herald
US-Korea air show returns after 6 years
Osan Air Power Days kicked off Friday at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, reopening to the public for the first time since 2019. Running through Saturday, the two-day event showcases the strength of the US-South Korea alliance with joint aerial demonstrations and on-base exhibits. A key highlight is the performance by the 'Black Eagles,' the Republic of Korea Air Force's elite aerobatic team. Flying eight black, white and gold T-50B 'Golden Eagle' jets, the team has operated since 2013 as the 53rd Air Demonstration Group, based at Wonju Air Base. Each aircraft is equipped with white smoke generators for dramatic sky displays. The event also features aerial demonstrations by US Air Force A-10 and F-16 aircraft, and interaction with American and Korean troops. First held in 2007, the annual air show was paused due to COVID-19 and operational constraints. Unlike other Korean aerospace events, Osan Air Power Days takes place inside an active US military base, offering rare civilian access. Entry is free, with gates open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Air shows begin at 10:30 a.m. A shuttle bus runs from Seojeong-ri Station. Valid ID (passport or driver's license) is required for admission.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Korean F-16s Just Bombed A Town By Accident
A pair of F-16 fighters operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) accidentally bombed a civilian area during a live-fire military exercise today. The incident took place ahead of large-scale joint maneuvers with U.S. forces in South Korea, the first of their kind since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Footage has now been released which appears to show yesterday's 'accidental bombing' in South Korea, in which an ROKAF KF-16 Multirole Fighter dropped 8 Mk-82 500lb Bombs on the Town of Dong-myeon in the Gyeonggi Province, during a Live-Fire Exercise with the U.S. Air Force. — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 6, 2025 민가에 포탄 떨어진 장면공군 훈련 중 KF-16 폭탄 8발 비정상 투하추가 피해 없길… — 국민이라면 (@korearamyun) March 6, 2025 本日午前10時頃韓国京機道浦川市で訓練中の韓国空軍のKF-16からＭK82爆弾8発が民家に誤爆され住民7人の重軽傷者が発生。死者が出なかっただけましか•••。何やってんだよマジで。 — SGT_LEE (@chosin1st) March 6, 2025 : Officials gather in an area with damaged buildings after South Korea's Air Force said that MK-82 bombs accidentally fell from two KF-16 jets outside the shooting range during joint live-fire exercises near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas in Pocheon, South… — Voice of America (@VOANews) March 6, 2025 At 10:04 a.m. local time this morning, two ROKAF F-16s dropped eight 500-pound Mk 82 bombs, all of which detonated. The point of impact was the city of Pocheon, around 20 miles south of the heavily militarized border with North Korea and 25 miles north of the South Korean capital, Seoul. It seems the intended target was the Seungjin Fire Training Field close to Pocheon, which today hosted a live-fire exercise involving K2 tanks, K55A1 self-propelled howitzers, AH-64 attack helicopters, and F-35A stealth fighters. South Korean Air Force KF-16 fighter jet accidentally dropped bombs on a civilian area during a live-fire the drill, a KF-16 jet accidentally dropped 8 x MK-82 bombs outside the designated area.4 people were seriously injured and 3 were slightly injured. — Clash Report (@clashreport) March 6, 2025 The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has announced that during a Joint-Exercise today with the U.S. Air Force, a KF-16 Multirole Fighter 'accidentally dropped' at least 8 Mk-82 500lb Bombs on the Town of Dong-myeon in the Gyeonggi Province of South Korea, less than 12 Miles… — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 6, 2025 'Our KF-16s abnormally dropped eight shells of Mk 82 bombs. They landed outside of the firing range,' the ROKAF said in a statement to the BBC. KF-16 is the designation for F-16C/Ds assembled locally in South Korea but is sometimes used generically for the entire ROKAF Viper fleet. These are the most numerous fighters in the South Korean air force, with a total of 180 having been acquired in both Block 30 and Block 52 versions. Around 130 of the jets are being upgraded to F-16V standard. Initial reports indicate that 15 people were injured in the incident. Local media say that two of those were now in a serious condition, with fractures to their necks and shoulders. According to the Yonhap news agency, a 60-year-old who had been driving at the time of the incident was left with shrapnel lodged in their neck. There was also extensive damage to buildings in the area, including a church and houses. 'There was a sudden loud roar of a fighter jet, then an explosion rang out. When I went to the scene, there were about four houses that were halved from the damage, people hurt,' Oh Moung-su, a 65-year-old resident, told Reuters. 'Dusk and smoke rose into the sky, water gushed out of a pipe. People in a vehicle going to a construction site were injured — some of them couldn't even get out of the car. Another was outside the car covering his eye.' At this stage, it's unclear why the bombs were dropped here, although a Reuters report, citing the country's military, suggests that one of the pilots entered the incorrect coordinates. It was yet to be determined why the second fighter dropped its bombs, the military said, but confirmed that all live-fire exercises had been suspended for the time being. The ROKAF says it is investigating what happened and will pay compensation to those affected. The maneuvers today occurred ahead of planned combined drills involving South Korea and the United States, known as Freedom Shield. These are the first of their kind under the new Trump administration and are due to run from March 10 to 20. South Korean military officials say today's incident will not affect this schedule. All of this comes at a time when South Korea and the United States are increasingly concerned about the deepening military alliance between North Korea and Russia. Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, North Korea has emerged as a key backer for Moscow, providing troops as well as millions of rounds of ammunition and other weaponry. According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the Freedom Shield drills will reflect 'lessons learned from recent armed conflicts' and North Korea's expanding partnership with Russia. Incidents involving live-fire exercises in South Korea are also not unheard of. During a joint U.S.-South Korea drill in 2022, a short-range ballistic missile was launched and malfunctioned, crashing into a golf course at a military base. The warhead didn't detonate, but there was a significant fire. On other occasions, stray munitions have landed near civilian residences in South Korea but have rarely caused injuries. In 2004, a ROKAF F-5B mistakenly released a practice bomb over Boryeong, 85 miles south of Seoul, but no one was harmed. In this latest case, it is especially alarming since these were live weapons — a full 4,000 pounds nominal weight in total — that detonated in a city with a population of around 140,000. There is also the fact that this occurred in close proximity to the North Korean border. Certainly, the results could have been much worse in terms of both civilian casualties and repercussions. While the South Korean military insists that today's incident will not affect the Freedom Shield drills, it will undoubtedly raise questions about the relative safety of live-fire exercises on the peninsula. In that sense, the timing is especially unfortunate for Seoul, as it prepares to begin the first large-scale joint maneuvers with the U.S. military under the new Trump administration, at a time of raised tensions with the North. Contact the author: thomas@
