Conscription guidelines set for Korean entertainers from abroad

Korean entertainers from abroad who have been active here without entering the military due to their acquisition of residentship in foreign countries or for other reasons have to leave the nation at an early date or join the armed forces.

The Military Manpower Administration (MMA) Thursday finalized a detailed guideline about the compulsory military service of entertainers, artists or sportsmen living abroad as Korean emigrates.

According to them, such youths who were exempted from being drafted or whose conscription has been postponed for their moving abroad shall be banned from leaving the country and be drafted if they stay in Korea for 60 days or more a year. Therefore, the MMA will issue a notice of physical checkup from May to the entertainers who have been staying here without leaving the country.

Those who the MMA classified as the subjects for the new guidelines are 12 singers. They are Yoo Seung-Jun, Lee Hyun-Do, Chung Suk-Won, Ahn Seung-Ho (Tony Ahn) of H.O.T., Shin Dong-Uk of Guffy, Mun Jung-Hyuk (Eric Mun) of Shinhwa, Park Hong-Jun (Teddy) of 1TYM, Lee Dong-Yun of Taesaja, Roh Seung-Hwan of Jinusean, Kim Jin-Woo of Jinusean, Kim Goo (Kim Won-Ki) of Koyote and Cho Myung-Ik (Mikey) of Turbo.

Lee Chol-Hi klimt@donga.com