Korean star Park Bogum will be enlisting in the Korean Navy on Aug. 31 and he is appealing to fans not to send him off due to the surge in the number of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in South Korea.
Blossom Entertainment, the 27-year-old actor’s agency, said that he “plans to quietly enlist without any special events, and the time and place of his enlistment will not be disclosed. So we ask for the fans' cooperation," JTBC Plus reported.
The South Korean government has raised social distancing to level 2 in the wake of continued increase in new COVID-19 cases especially in Seoul.
"It's time for us to seriously follow the order of social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pay attention to everyone's health. Therefore, we hope you will restrain yourselves from gathering at the enlistment place, but will give your support and attention to the artist in your heart only. Once again, hopefully, you will not see him off at the location of enlistment," Blossom Entertainment added.
The Korean government urged the public to “postpone or cancel non-essential outings, social gatherings, events, or travel” and not visit any crowded places.
People are also urged to observe a physical distance of at least 1 meter and refrain from doing “droplet-producing activities such as shouting, singing out loud, or chanting.”
Park Bogum will be undergoing basic training at the Navy Education and Training Command and will be discharged in April 2022.
The COVID-19 situation in South Korea has resulted in the cancellation of the online press conference slated on Aug. 27 for Park Bogum’s new tvN drama “Record of Youth,” which will start airing on Sept. 7.
Last Aug. 10, Park Bogum released the song “All My Love” as a gift to his fans before his enlistment.
Park Bogum’s military service was announced in June after he passed the test and interview to join the Navy’s military band and honor guard.