When idol decides to enlist in army, it is a real event like an official fan meeting. Speech and photo shoot, enlisting a star in the military means an absence within showbiz at least a year - an eternity for fans! Unlike a mere civil, military service superstar Jung Ji Hoon, known worldwide under the name Bi Rain, was closely followed by the media. After rejecting the beginning of his military service for the filming of drama Fugitive: Plan B, the 31-year-old singer has finally served as an "entertainment soldier" from Oct.11, 2011 to July 10, 2013.
Military service is double-edged to idols. It can be used to boost or ruin their popularity. The media had a fun comparison of actions of the singer Rain and actor Hyun Bin, who chose toserve in the Marines (March 7, 2011 to Dec.6, 2012) and received numerous praises, including an award from the Secretary of Defense. A marine officer said: "Although he is a top star he worked very hard without any special treatment or training. We would like to give him this award for his faithful military service."
Military law is very strict, even for stars of the Hallyu. Any infringement is blameworthy. During their military service, each soldier apprentice must maintain his uniform at all times (even during their holidays and permissions) and have limited free time. The relationship between the two celebrities Rain and Kim Tae Hee came to light and turned into scandal while the singer was spotted dating during his service. Consequently, the star was punished on this incident. The behavior of some stars during their military service went on screens by both the government and the general audience. Any misbehavior can not go unnoticed and sometimes takes out of proportion.
In South Korea, every man has to go through a tough phase for national service. All Korean, physically fit and mentally, must undergo training before the age of 35 for a period of 21-24 months. South Korea has one of the world's longest military service after Israel and Singapore. The Korean Ministry of Defence hope is to have a military force of 517,000 soldiers in 2020. After completing military service, young men do not stop all their duties towards the nation. Indeed, once a year, every civilian must return to a training camp for a wakeup call and that, for the next eight years.
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