He’s been making the most of his time.
Koreaboo
1 hour ago
One of Korea’s most popular K-Drama and movie actors, Ahn Hyo Seop, has been fully exempted from mandatory military duty.
According to South Korean law, all able-bodied men are required to serve in the military for a selected period of time by the age of 30. But for some special cases, exemptions can be made, which include certain health issues or outstanding national-level achievements in sports or different art forms.
Born in 1995, Ahn is currently 30 years old. He has also been enjoying soaring popularity with hit K-Dramas like Business Proposal and Dr. Romantic Season 2 and 3. But he also rose to stardom through his role in movie K-Pop Demon Hunters. After his K-Drama A Time Called You, the actor hosted a fanmeeting, which led a lot of people to expect that his enlistment news might have been coming shortly after.
But it turned out he was not obligated to join the military in South Korea, thanks to his Canadian citizenship. Though Ahn Hyo Seop was born in Seoul, South Korea, to Korean parents, his family emigrated to Canada when he was 7 years old. He spent the next ten years in the country and was scouted by JYP Entertainment while attending high school there. He returned to South Korea at age 17 and began his life as a trainee.
Trainee Ahn Hyo Seop (extreme right) with JYP trainees Cecilia (left) and Park Seoham (middle) | @Cecilia宋妍霏/Weibo
Though he spent three years training to be an idol, he found the job to be stressful and shifted his focus to acting. He made his acting debut in 2015 and has steadily risen in the industry to become a top-tier star today. So, his military exemption has come as delightful news for his global fans.
Thanks to not having to spend 18 months in the military, Ahn Hyo Seop has been able to further his acting career, with roles in K-Pop Demon Hunters, Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy, and his upcoming K-Drama Sold Out Today.