Until We Meet Again! Lee Jun Young Officially Enlists in the Military—Here’s How He Said Goodbye
July 27, 2026
It is officially time to pull out the tissue boxes and send off one of our absolute favorite muses. On July 21, 2026, actor and singer Lee Jun Young officially enlisted in the South Korean military to fulfill his mandatory service as an active-duty soldier. While fans around the world are going to miss his charming smile and magnetic screen presence terribly, the multi-talented star made sure to give everyone a proper, heartwarming send-off before stepping away.
From shaving his head into a sleek military buzz cut to spending quality time with his closest industry friends, Lee Jun Young shared every step of his final pre-enlistment preparations on social media. If you are feeling a little bittersweet today, don’t worry! We are breaking down everything you need to know about Lee Jun Young‘s enlistment, his sweet pre-military moments, and the exciting projects he has stockpiled so we won’t miss him too much while he is away.
Star-Studded Goodbyes and a Fresh Buzz Cut: Inside Lee Jun Young’s Pre-Enlistment Moments
Before reporting to the military training center, Lee Jun Young took to Instagram to give fans an intimate look at his transformation. Shaving his own clippers at dawn, the actor proudly debuted his fresh military buzz cut—and honestly, he rocks the ultra-cropped look completely!
Even sweeter was seeing the incredible support system surrounding him. Lee Jun Young posed for a series of candid photos alongside some very familiar faces who came out to wish him well:
- Feeldog from UNB, reminding fans of their everlasting bond from his idol group days.
- Kim Heechul from Super Junior, bringing his signature big-brother support to the room.
- His dedicated staff members and team, who have been by his side through his non-stop filming schedules.
In true sweetheart fashion, Lee Jun Young also spent precious quality time with his family right before stepping away. His father shared a touching story online, revealing that his son personally cooked a warm pot of homemade doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) for him the day before enlisting. Talk about the ultimate dutiful son!
“Until I knew the date, I kept thinking, ‘Well, it’s nothing special. I’ll just go.’ But once I got the date, I found myself thinking a lot for the first time in a while. I will return healthy and true to myself.” — Lee Jun Young in a handwritten letter to fans.
From U-KISS Idol to K-Drama Royalty: The Rise of Lee Jun Young
It’s impossible to talk about Lee Jun Young without admiring his breathtaking career trajectory. First stepping into the music industry in 2014 as Jun of the K-pop group U-KISS, he quickly proved that his talent extended far beyond the stage. After making his acting debut in 2017, he steadily built one of the most impressive and versatile filmographies of his generation.
In recent years, Lee Jun Young has been on an absolute hot streak, transitioning seamlessly from intense action thrillers to heart-fluttering romances. K-drama enthusiasts have cheered for him across a string of major productions, including:
- When Life Gives You Tangerines
- Weak Hero Class 2
- Pump Up the Healthy Love
- Reborn Rookie, where he delivered a show-stopping performance playing a challenging dual role that earned critical acclaim and topped ratings right up until its finale.
His ability to sink deep into complex roles while keeping his natural charm intact is exactly why Lee Jun Young has captured the hearts of global audiences.
No Content Drought! What’s Coming Next for Lee Jun Young?
If you’re worried about facing a “Lee Jun Young drought” over his 18-month service, you can breathe a sigh of relief! Knowing that his military service was approaching, Lee Jun Young worked relentlessly to ensure his fans wouldn’t feel his absence on screen.
The biggest highlight on our radar is tvN’s highly anticipated musical coming-of-age drama, Four Hands, Two Sonatas. Set to premiere in August 2026, the series stars Lee Jun Young alongside Song Kang and Jang Gyu-ri. He plays Choi Jeong-yo, a genius pianist born into tough circumstances who finds healing and passion through music at an elite arts high school.
Because Lee Jun Young completed filming prior to his enlistment date, fans will get to enjoy fresh episodes, teasers, and performance clips throughout the upcoming months. Additionally, he has completed work on several other upcoming releases, including the Netflix romantic comedy Our Sticky Love and the feature film Handwritten.
A Heartfelt Farewell to Muses Everywhere
Although saying goodbye is never easy, Lee Jun Young left his global fanbase with a cheerful, optimistic promise. Through his agency, Billions, he shared a lighthearted message that perfectly captures his bright spirit:
“I will return healthy. See you next winter! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year X2!”
Here at D-Muse Magz, we are sending Lee Jun Young all the positive energy, safety, and love as he fulfills his civic duty. We cannot wait to tune into Four Hands, Two Sonatas this August and count down the days until our favorite muse returns to the screen healthier, stronger, and brighter than ever!
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