Korean netizens have started to doubt the real reason for Jang Keun-Suk’s need to serve as a social service agent for mandatory military service.
While Jang Keun-Suk is supposed to start his military service on July 16, it seems that he has bumped into a roadblock. After the actor’s agency reported that he will serve as a social service agent due to a health issue, Korean netizens started to doubt the real reason.
On July 6, TreeJ Company announced, “Jang Keun-Suk will serve as a social service agent due to bipolar disorder. While he has done his best to overcome the disorder, we have failed to give satisfactory results. However, he will commit with a full responsibility and return with a healthier and more mature version of him.”
However, on July 13, a rumor circulated the web that Jang Keun-Suk is serving as a social service worker not because of bipolar disorder, but because he is the only son to his family. Some netizens found out that the word Mumaedokja, meaning “the only son to a family with no daughters,” was listed on the official website of the actor. Following the discovery, they argued this is the real reason for him not having to serve as an active soldier.
Indeed, there was an article that excused men without siblings from having to serve military service as an active soldier in the past. However, the country revoked the policy in 1994.
The Military Manpower Administration clarified the rumors as well. The organization said, “being an only son doesn’t affect the physical examination for military service anymore. In the past, an article did exist to excuse “only sons” from having to serve as an active soldier. However, we abolished the article in 1994.”
The MMA continued, “there is no such article in the current military service law. Jang Keun-Suk’s need to serve as a social service worker also has nothing to do with him being the family’s only son. Furthermore, he also did not receive any special treatment as a celebrity.”
Meanwhile, Jang Keun-Seuk reportedly received his first diagnosis of bipolar disorder back in 2011. Afterwards, every physical examination regarding military service requested that he re-examines after he recovers health. Despite the efforts, the final examination concluded that he is unfit to carry out the duties as an active soldier.
Original Article (1), (2), (3)
Translated by Dasol Kim
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