‘Boys Over Flowers’ actor to enlist in the army
Filipino K-Pop fans will have to say goodbye to actor and singer Kim Joon, best known for his role as Song Woo Bin in the hit Koreanovela 'Boys Over Flowers', at least for two years. It was recently reported that the actor-singer is scheduled to enlist in the military within the year.
The news took many fans by surprise given an earlier announcement from Kim Joon's management that he would pursue a master's degree in Global Culture Content at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. The news of his impending enlistment was released to the public via the official website of four-man Korean idol group T-Max, of which Kim Joon is the resident rapper.
Recently, T-Max had been involved with their Japanese promotions and the group's agency has been scrambling to meet all contractual obligations. Kim Joon's decision to enlist in the army may have prompted T-Max to cancel their future schedules. For T-Max fans, there is a somewhat cryptic note from the group's management which may point towards a possible formal break-up of the group. The management hinted that the remaining three members of T-Max including Shin Min Chul, Joo Chang Yang, and Park Han Bi are pursuing individual activities. They asked for the support of fans for each member's foray into unfamiliar territory.
In "Boys Over Flowers," Kim essayed a memorable turn as Song Woo Bin, the son of the owner of a large construction company who relished connections to underground criminal elements. His portrayal of supportive brother to the members of F4 endeared him to fans all over the world. His K-Pop idol group T-Max was also given considerable airtime with the music of "Boys Over Flowers," including the addictive "Paradise," which was one of the most prominently featured songs on the runaway hit show. In addition to four other T-Max songs ("Say Yes," "Bang Bang Boom," "Fight the Bad Feeling," and "Wish You're My Love"), Kim also had opportunities to shine solo in the soundtrack with "To Empty Out," featuring Kim Jo Han. Mr. Kim had recently wrapped up work on "Detectives In Trouble" (also known as "Crime Squad" or "Homicide Division").
Kim Joon is scheduled to enlist at the end of 2011. I am sure his fans will miss him.
