[TIME] K-Pop Star G-Dragon of BIGBANG Has Started Military Service. Now His Unit Is in Chaos

By CASEY QUACKENBUSH

2:10 AM EDT

In South Korea, two years of military service is obligatory for male citizens ages 18 to 35—even for K-pop superstars. But ever since G-Dragon, leader of the hit K-pop boy band BIGBANG, enlisted on Feb. 27, his army unit has been overrun with fan mail, the Korea Timesreports.

“G-Dragon is facing difficulties with fans sending too many letters to the unit,” wrote his management company, YG Entertainment, on social media channels. “Please refrain from sending letters and we will appreciate it.”

The fan mail has caused difficulties at the military camp where G Dragon is currently undergoing five weeks of basic training, and according to the Times the sheer volume of emails received has shut down the battalion server.

“Emails have to be printed out on paper to be distributed to the soldiers, but ink and A4 paper in the battalion have run out and G-Dragon feels sorry for his fellow soldiers there,” YG Entertainment said. “G-Dragon is thankful for his fans’ concern over his military duty. At the same time, he feels sorry he can’t read all the letters sent to him. But again, please consider the tricky situation G-Dragon faces.”

G-Dragon is serving in South Korea’s 3rd Infantry “Skeleton” Division stationed in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province.

Fellow bandmates have also begun their mandatory military service, the Straits Timesreports. Taeyang was conscripted on Monday, and Daesung was drafted on Tuesday.

Source: TIME.com

Daesung fourth BIGBANG member to enter into military

HWACHEON, South Korea, March 13 (Yonhap) — Idol singer Daesung joined the Army on Tuesday, becoming the fourth member of K-pop group BIGBANG to start his mandatory military duty.

Daesung arrived at the Army’s 27th Infantry Division in Hwacheon, some 118 kilometers northeast of Seoul. After a five-week training session, Daesung will be assigned to an Army unit, where he will serve out the rest of his duty.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men have to fulfill military duty for around two years.

Fans of Daesung made their way to say goodbye, shouting and holding signs with the message, “I’ll wait for you, Let’s meet again.” Daesung saluted his fans before making his way into the Army base.

The singer’s enlistment was preceded by bandmate Taeyang’s own admittance to the Army on Monday. Daesung is the fourth member of BIGBANG to serve in the military, leaving Seungri the only singer who has yet to serve. Seungri plans to enlist after releasing a solo album sometime during the first half of the year.

Outside of his success of over a decade through BIGBANG, Daesung has carved out a formidable solo career in Japan by releasing two solo albums, “D’scover” and “D-Day,” since 2013.

BIGBANG will put out “Flower Road,” a previously unreleased song later in the day, to bid farewell to fans during the group’s hiatus.

Daesung, singer of K-pop group BIGBANG, salutes fans before enlisting in the Army at the 27th Infantry Division base in Hwacheon, 118 kilometers northeast of Seoul, on March 13, 2018. (Yonhap)

 

Daesung, singer of K-pop group BIGBANG, salutes fans before enlisting in the Army at the 27th Infantry Division base in Hwacheon, 118 kilometers northeast of Seoul, on March 13, 2018. (Yonhap)

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