K-pop boy group ATEEZ recently found itself embroiled in an unexpected "military evasion" controversy. The incident's origin is linked to Stray Kids member Lee Know (이민호)'s upcoming enlistment. As Lee Know confirmed his military service in the first quarter of 2027 (January to March), becoming the first Stray Kids member to enlist, overseas fans began to focus on the military arrangements of other fourth-generation boy groups. ATEEZ, in particular, faced scrutiny from international fans unfamiliar with Korea's Military Service Act, who questioned why some members, already 28 years old, had not yet enlisted, even accusing them of "evading military service." This sparked considerable discussion.
Under Korea's current military service system, most male citizens are required to fulfill their conscription duties. However, the exact timing of enlistment is not uniform for everyone, being influenced by factors such as service type, military branch, individual status, and relevant regulations. Generally, men must complete their enlistment within a specified period, leading many Korean male celebrities to face military service around age 28. Once enlisted, entertainment activities are typically paused for at least 18 months.
With the news of Lee Know's confirmed enlistment, the question of "which fourth-generation boy group member will enlist first" has become a hot topic among international fans. Idols born in 1998 are gradually turning 28 this year, meaning many male celebrities who have waited until the legal limit will soon face enlistment.
ATEEZ members Park Seong-hwa (박성화) and Kim Hong-joong (김홍중) turned 28 on April 3 and November 7 this year, respectively, bringing their military service arrangements into focus. Recently, an unrelated online post was reposted by users, listing what they believed to be the "due dates" for ATEEZ members' enlistment. Upon seeing this, some overseas fans began questioning, "Why haven't they enlisted yet?" and even directly accused ATEEZ members of "evading military service."
However, these claims stem from a misunderstanding of the Korean military service system. For international fans unfamiliar with Korea's Military Service Act, "turning 28" might be misinterpreted as an immediate requirement to enlist on one's 28th birthday, but this is not the case.
While 28 is indeed a significant age for military service arrangements for Korean men, enlistment can still be legally postponed under specific conditions. For instance, some men pursuing higher education may defer service after meeting relevant qualifications and obtaining permission.
Furthermore, Korea revised its Military Service Act in 2020, allowing popular culture artists who receive recommendations from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and are recognized for significantly contributing to enhancing Korea's image domestically and internationally to postpone their enlistment until age 30.
ATEEZ was previously selected as a 2020 promotional ambassador for the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), an agency under the MCST. They also received the Prime Minister's Commendation from the MCST and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA). Therefore, based on these regulations, there is a possibility that they could qualify for an enlistment deferral.
More importantly, the military service deadline for Korean men is not simply "enlist immediately upon turning 28." In principle, men can defer their enlistment until they turn 28, but they must complete their service before December 31 of the year they turn 28. Therefore, even without considering other special deferral regulations, one cannot conclude that ATEEZ members are "evading military service" simply because they have not yet enlisted.
In other words, the recent accusations of ATEEZ members "evading military service" by overseas fans are largely due to a lack of understanding of the Korean military service system, equating "28 years old" directly with "immediate enlistment." In reality, whether ATEEZ members qualify for deferral and when they will enlist still depends on their individual status and relevant Korean military service regulations. Currently, there is no evidence to suggest they are evading military service.
