K-pop boy band EXO member Baekhyun enlisted in the Korean military on his 29th birthday last May 6 and the army has released his photo together with other recruits.
Baekhyun entered the Korean Army’s Nonsan Training Center and is currently undergoing basic military training for three weeks.
In the photo released by the Korea Army Training Center, Baekhyun and the other trainees are doing a V sign under the 23rd Regiment, 3rd Platoon and 2nd Squad.
He is the sixth member of EXO to enlist in the military after Xiumin, Suho, D.O., Chen and Chanyeol.
Baekhyun will finish his basic military training on May 27 wherein a completion ceremony will be held for all those who entered the camp on May 6.
After finishing his military training, he will start his duty as a social service worker (previously called public service worker), an alternative military service, due to his hypothyroidism.
He was classified by the Military Manpower Administration (MMA), which supervises conscription in Korea, under Grade 4, which corresponds to alternative military service.
Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, “is a condition in which your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of certain crucial hormones,” according to the Mayo Clinic website. Its symptoms and signs are fatigue, muscle weakness, pain, stiffness or swelling in the joints, depression, impaired memory and enlarged thyroid gland (goiter).
After he underwent physical examination, Baekhyun was classified as not qualified to serve as an active duty soldier. In the assessment for hypothyroidism, he received Grade 4.
In a video uploaded last May 13, Baekhyun told fans the three ways to wait for him while he is away.
“It may feel long or short depending on how you think about it. It's a sad time when we must stay apart for a while but for the past 10 years, which is several times longer, we've made such beautiful memories, which will give us power to endure this hardship,” he said.
He said he will upload one video per month on his channel, or fans can listen to his solo albums. He will also listen to their voices.
"You can tell me food you had that day, something that made you happy, something that made you sad or upset, or how much you miss me today,” he said.
Baekhyun is expected to serve for 21 months and will be discharged on Feb. 5, 2023.