Actor Jo In-Seong entered a training program Monday before joining the South Korean Air Force in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province.
The star of "A Frozen Flower" appeared before the press sporting a short haircut and wearing black sportswear. Some 200 reporters and 300 fans, including over 100 Japanese women, crowded the venue.
"I'm not the only one entering the military, and so many fans have come to support me", he said. "I apologize for inconveniencing others by becoming a soldier. I'm actually feeling much more at ease now that military service has become a reality. I sincerely thank everyone who came today and I will come back after doing my best in the military"
The 27-year-old entered a weeklong session, including physical exams, a personality test and other formal procedures. Afterward, he will participate in a five-week preliminary training program before entering the Air Force for a 25-month stint of service. South Korean men are obligated to complete a mandatory two-year period of military service before the age of 29.
The actor qualified for the Air Force last November as a soldier specializing in military music. Jo is said to have often expressed his wish to follow in the footsteps of his father, who was an Air Force officer.
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By Lee Hyo-won
