A member of K-pop group Pentagon was discharged from military service due to mental disorder, his agency announced.
According to Cube Entertainment on Dec. 26, Pentagon member Hongseok, 28, “was classified as a Wartime Labor Service call and was medically discharged from his military service.”
His medical discharge came just nearly eight months after enlisting in the military on May 3 this year. He has been serving as an active duty soldier.
“Due to panic disorder and depression with agoraphobia, Hongseok has been under continuous treatment and consultation during his military service,” the agency said.
It added, “However, according to the military’s judgment and measures, Hongseok has been discharged from the military due to his symptoms getting worse. We apologize for causing concern with the sudden news. Cube Entertainment will continue to do our best to help Hongseok focus on treatment.”
Agoraphobia, according to the Mayo Clinic website, “is a type of anxiety disorder in which you fear and avoid places or situations that might cause you to panic and make you feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed. You fear an actual or anticipated situation, such as using public transportation, being in open or enclosed spaces, standing in line, or being in a crowd.”
It explained that “the anxiety is caused by fear that there's no easy way to escape or get help if the anxiety intensifies. Most people who have agoraphobia develop it after having one or more panic attacks, causing them to worry about having another attack and avoid the places where it may happen again.”
“People with agoraphobia often have a hard time feeling safe in any public place, especially where crowds gather. You may feel that you need a companion, such as a relative or friend, to go with you to public places. The fear can be so overwhelming that you may feel unable to leave your home,” it added.
Treatment for agoraphobia involves ”psychotherapy and medication. It may take some time, but treatment can help you get better.”
Under Article 65 of Korea’s Military Service Act, “Any person in active duty service, in onboard ship reserve service, or in supplemental service, and who falls under subparagraph 1, may be transferred to supplemental service or the second citizen service, or exempted from military service, after a physical examination, and any person who falls under subparagraph 2 may be transferred to supplemental service or the second citizen service."
Subparagraph 1 refers to “a person who is incapable of performing military service due to a war wound or a wound in the course of duty, disease or mental or physical disorder” while subparagraph 2 means “a person who is deemed unfit for military service due to reasons prescribed by Presidential Decree, such as serving time in prison, etc.”