Lee Jun Young Announces Official July Military Enlistment Date

The highly talented singer and actor Lee Jun-young has personally delivered the bittersweet news of his upcoming mandatory military enlistment to his international fanbase through a deeply moving, handwritten letter. On June 14, 2026, the prominent television star took to his official social media account to upload a photo of his personal message, formally announcing that he will be temporarily stepping away from the entertainment industry to begin his national service on July 21, 2026.

Dominating Television Ratings Ahead of Official Enlistment

Even as he prepares to fulfill his national defense duties, Lee Jun-young is currently enjoying an incredible high point in his career by showing a relentless work ethic. He is currently starring as the main lead in the highly popular JTBC weekend television drama series The New Employee, CEO Kang (also known as New Employee Kang Hoe-jang). The show initially debuted with a modest 3.7% nationwide viewing rating, but it has quickly evolved into a major weekend sensation by successfully breaking its own viewership records with every single consecutive episode.

In the trending series, Lee Jun-young plays the complex role of a character named Hwang Jun-hyun, who becomes central to a highly unique and supernatural body-swapping storyline. Entertainment critics and regular viewers have flooded the actor with immense praise for his ability to make such a highly fantasy-driven premise feel completely grounded and emotionally believable. His natural acting skills have allowed him to guide the heavy flow of the plot with absolute ease, turning the weekend project into a verified hit for the broadcasting network.

A Packed Lineup of Upcoming Projects to Prevent a Fan Hiatus

Fortunately for his dedicated fanbase, Lee Jun-young has worked incredibly hard ahead of his official military draft date to ensure that audiences will not have to suffer through a quiet hiatus period. The actor has spent the past several months filming back-to-back projects that are officially scheduled to roll out during his time away in the army:

• Four Hands: This highly anticipated television series is officially set to make its grand public debut this coming August 2026, meaning fans will see him on screen just weeks after he goes into the military training camp.
• What a Terrible Love: He has also finalized filming for this major Netflix original romantic comedy series, which is currently moving through final post-production stages.
• Handwritten: Adding to his packed schedule, the star has also completely wrapped up production for this upcoming block-buster theatrical movie, ensuring a strong presence across streaming networks and movie theaters alike.

The multi-talented artist initially made his official debut in the entertainment world back in 2014 as a member of the popular K-pop boy band U-KISS under the stage name Jun, before transitioning into a highly respected, award-winning dramatic actor under his current management agency, Billions. Fans can continue to catch his ongoing stellar performance in The New Employee, CEO Kang, which airs every Saturday night at 10:40 PM and every Sunday night at 10:30 PM on JTBC, right up until his official enlistment on July 21.