K-POP powerhouse SEVENTEEN will soon send off another member to the military.
PLEDIS Entertainment, the 13-member act’s agency, announced that Jeon Wonwoo will begin his mandatory military service on April 3, 2025.
This means that Wonwoo will not be part of SEVENTEEN’s upcoming events after his enlistment, including Tecate Pa’l Norte 2025 Festival and its fan meeting in Japan next month.
However, he will still participate in the “SEVENTEEN in CARAT LAND” concert, to be held from March 20 to 21 in Incheon, South Korea, and appear in various pre-recorded content.
The label stressed that there would be no official event on the day of his enlistment, encouraging fans, collectively known as CARATs, to refrain from visiting the site of Wonwoo’s alternative military service.
“Please send your heartfelt messages of support for Wonwoo through Weverse,” said PLEDIS.
“We ask for your continued love and support for the artist until his safe and healthy return. We will also stay committed to providing Wonwoo with all the necessary support during this time,” it added.
Wonwoo, SEVENTEEN’s rapper and member of its hip-hop unit (HHU), is the second member to enlist in the military following vocalist Yoon Jeonghan who began his mandatory service in September 2024.
A surprise announcement
Wonwoo is currently trending on X (formerly Twitter), with many fans expressing how they will miss him once he enters the military.
The enlistment notice came as a surprise for some CARATs who were expecting Hoshi to be sent off first. SEVENTEEN’s performance team leader had been hinting about his military enlistment during the Philippine leg of the “Right Here” world tour in Bulacan where he did a military salute and wore camouflage-patterned pants.
“Napaniwala kaming siya ang mauuna kaya ‘di ako nakabwelo kay Wonwoo,” a Filo CARAT said.
“‘Yung akala natin si Hoshi mauuna kasi excited… tapos hindi pala,” another fan posted on X.
Wonwoo and Hoshi are part of SEVENTEEN’s ’96 line, along with Lee Jihoon or Woozi and Chinese member Wen Junhui. Foreign members of a K-pop group are not obligated to serve in the South Korean military.
SEVENTEEN’S leader, S.Coups, was granted an exemption from his mandatory military service due to his ACL injury.
London Fashion Week
Before his enlistment announcement, Wonwoo graced the London Fashion Week in his Bonded Cotton Trench Jacket and Silk Tailored Trousers from luxury fashion house Burberry.
He completed his look with pink Leather Matrix Sneakers from the same fashion brand.
Wonwoo was in the Burberry show for its Winter 2025 collection, held at Tate Britain.
He shared a few snaps from the event on his Instagram page, including a photo with Burberry’s Chief Creative Officer Daniel Lee.
In October 2024, Wonwoo appeared at the Burberry Flagship Store in Seoul, South Korea.
