Lee Jun Young Confirms Military Enlistment in 2026, Declares Career Break and Singing Retirement

Lee Jun Young confirms his military enlistment. He also shares health concerns, upcoming dramas, and the decision to step away from singing.

Image Credit - Instagram

South Korean actor Lee Jun Young has officially confirmed that he will enlist in the military this year. Although his enlistment was not expected because of his age, he has now shared the complete details about the timeline with his honest timeline of stepping away from his career. 

Lee Jun Young Talks About Enlistment and Taking a Break

In a recent interaction with Korean media, Lee Jun Young revealed that he has already planned ahead for his absence.

He shared, “Since I’m set to enlist this year, I pre-filmed several projects in advance.”

Military service in South Korea is usually required for 18 months or more, based on the tasks. Despite a long break, he is not seeing it as a long break because he has accepted that the break might help him in recovering from years of intense work. 

“I don’t feel regret. I think I’ll actually feel relieved. Physically, it has been very exhausting,” he said.

A Packed 2025 With Back-to-Back Projects

Image Credit - Instagram

Last year, Young had a packed schedule as he had appeared in many dramas and special characters. Below are the top dramas of his:

• Melo Movie
• When Life Gives You Tangerines
• Weak Hero Class 2
• Pump Up the Healthy Love
• Special appearance in The Queen Who Crowns

He also made an appearance in a film like Our Sticky Love and Literalism (working title). On top of that, he had received many recognitions in the same year. Best Actor at AAA 2025 and Excellence Award at the KBS Drama Awards are examples of these recognitions. 

He described it as rewarding and physically demanding. 

He said, “I truly lived the hardest I ever have. I poured everything into my work”.

Read more: Heeseung Becomes Evan After ENHYPEN Exit

Is Heeseung Leaving ENHYPEN? Sudden Update Sparks Fan Concern

Health Scare After Extreme Workload

During the same interview, he also opened up about his health problem he faced due to overwork. As per him, his condition worsened due to overlapping shoots, minimal rest, and only a few hours of sleep. 

He revealed, “I only had one or two days off a month and slept just two or three hours before filming. One day, I suddenly fainted.”

He also acknowledged that his team goes through the same pressure as his manager and staff go through the same struggle. This experience might be one of the reasons he chose to take a break. 

Upcoming Dramas Before Enlistment

Lee Jun Young has confirmed that his fans won’t miss him when he goes on a break, as he has shot two big dramas in advance. The following are his upcoming projects:

• Reborn Rookie – He will play a dual role with Son Hyun Joo in this drama. He shared that playing a dual role was a major role in this show, as his character switches souls in it. 
• Four Hands – Its story will be centred on friendship and music. Song Kang will be his co-star for this drama. He described it as a warm love story about 2 friends connected through the piano. 

No Regrets, But Some Health Concerns

Born on January 22, 1997, Lee Jun Young will enlist at a slightly later stage compared to many people. When asked about his enlistment, he responded calmly by saying that it is natural to be curious. Meanwhile, he did express some concern about his health. 

“My knees and back hurt a bit. I just hope to get through it safely,” he confirmed.

Despite physical challenges, he is focused on doing his duty without any kind of overthinking. 

Read more: Jang Ki-Yong And Ahn Eun-Jin Paired For An Upcoming Romantic Drama

Kim Min Ha Join Lee Junho in Typhoon Company and replace Geum Sae Rok

Lee Jun Young Announces Retirement From Singing

Image Credit - Instagram

He has also confirmed his retirement from his singing career. For those unaware, he was a member of U-Kiss. But he came back to music with his solo mini-album LAST DANCE. Meanwhile, he confirmed that the album marked the end of his singing career. 

He said, “I don’t have any plans as a singer going forward. LAST DANCE was my final album—that’s why I named it that.”

He added that it is not realistic for him to balance singing and acting. And he did not want to treat music casually, while others dedicate their entire career to it. 

A Grounded View on Fame and Career

Lee Jun Young also shared his perspective on popularity and success. He said that staying away from fame might help him stay emotionally balanced. 

He said, “If you think popularity isn’t yours, it becomes easier. After I return, I’ll work with those who still support me.”  

As of now, he is staying focused on completing his upcoming projects and entering the military service with a clear mindset. 

What do you think about his step of going away from fame? Let us know in the comments section below. 

Read more: BTS Comeback Confirmed: K-Pop Icons to Release New Album on This Day

Does Kafeel’s Finale Beat Humrahi? Check The Top 5 Pakistani Dramas of Week 18 (2026) on YouTube

Published: 4 April 2026 at 9:52 PM IST