Korean actor Hyun Bin, who is one of Asia’s top stars, said on Wednesday he would join the Marines in March to serve the mandatory military duty.

AM Entertainment, an agency representing Hyun, said the actor took a test for the Marines last year and, if he passes the screening, will join the Marines in March.

“Hyun Bin has so far focused on his image as an actor and also has had a good impression of the Marines,” AM Entertainment said. 

 

Actor Hyun Bin, who stars in the SBS weekend drama "Secret Garden," said he would join the Marines in March. (Yonhap News)

   Hyun is currently playing the title role in the hugely popular TV drama “Secret Garden,” which is generating one buzzword after another, especially about the witty lines Hyun delivers on screen.

Hyun’s decision to volunteer for the Marines is in sharp contrast to a host of actors who have been charged with draft-dodging. In Korea, all men are required to serve in the military for about two years, an obligation that disrupts the careers of professionals in the entertainment and sports fields.

Since military service is mandatory, the public tends to express deep displeasure at those who try to avoid it, showcased by the recent scandal involving MC Mong, a hip hop artist who is suspected to have removed his teeth to be exempted from duty.

Several years ago, Yoo Seung-joon, a singer, publicly announced he would join the army but at the last minute flew back to the United States to avoid serving, a decision that resulted in a huge backlash.

(Herald Online)