Lee Jae-wook to Enlist on May 18, Agency Confirms Army Service

Actor Lee Jae-wook will begin his military service this month, with his agency confirming that he is set to enlist on May 18.

On May 4, Log Studio announced that Lee will enter a training camp that morning, complete his basic military training, and then continue serving as an active-duty soldier in the Army. The agency also said there will be no separate public event related to his enlistment.

The announcement marks the start of a new chapter for the actor, who has steadily built one of the most recognizable rising careers among his generation of Korean drama stars.

His enlistment comes as new projects are still on the way

Although Lee Jae-wook will be entering military service, audiences will still be seeing him onscreen in the months ahead.

According to the report, ENA’s Monday-Tuesday drama Doctor on the Edge is scheduled to air next month, while the Netflix series Honey Part-Time Job is also expected to be released in the second half of this year.

That means his enlistment arrives at a moment when his presence in the industry will not disappear all at once. Even while he is away fulfilling his service, new work featuring the actor is still lined up, allowing viewers to continue following his career through upcoming releases.

A fast rise since his 2018 debut

Born in 1998, Lee Jae-wook made his acting debut in 2018 through the drama Memories of the Alhambra.

He continued to expand his name recognition with roles in Search: WWW and Extraordinary You in 2019, gradually building a reputation for a screen presence that could shift between intensity, charisma, and emotional vulnerability.

His profile rose even more significantly in 2022, when he drew major attention through the Alchemy of Souls series. That project helped establish him more firmly as one of the actors to watch among younger Korean stars, while also broadening his global audience.

A pause in schedule, but not in visibility

For many actors, enlistment represents an unavoidable pause. In Lee Jae-wook’s case, however, the timing also highlights how carefully his recent activities appear to have been arranged.

With one television drama set for near-term broadcast and another major streaming release still ahead this year, his military service begins at a point where his work can continue reaching audiences even during his absence. That may soften the immediate gap for fans, while also keeping his momentum alive until his return.

For now, the message from his agency is straightforward: Lee Jae-wook will quietly begin his service on May 18, without a separate farewell event, and carry out his duty as an active-duty Army soldier.