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.
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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)
<한글기사>
현빈, 해병대 자원 입대
현빈이 해병대에 자원 입대한다.
현빈의 소속사 AM엔터테인먼트는 12일 "현빈이 지난해 해병대에 지원했고 '시크릿 가든' 촬영 도중 수원병무청에서 면접을 봤다"며 "합격이 되면 3월 입대할 예정"이라고 밝혔다.
소속사는 "현빈 자신이 그간 건강한 이미지로 어필해왔고, 평소 해병대에 대해 좋은 이미지를 갖고 있어 자원입대를 결정했다"며 "현빈이 어려서부터 남성적인 것에 대한 동경이 있어 육사에 가려고도 했다"고 전했다.
이어 "가족 중에 해병대 출신이 있는 것은 아니고 친한 친구가 해병대에 다녀온 인연은 있다"고 소속사는 덧붙였다.
16일 '시크릿 가든'의 종영을 앞두고 있는 현빈은 영화 '만추'의 개봉에 이어 군에 입대할 예정이다.
(연합뉴스)
