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Donghae of Super Junior / Korea Times file |
The 29-year-old, whose real name is Lee Dong-hae, joined a boot camp in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, earlier Thursday, S.M. Entertainment said, adding after weeks of basic training, he will be on active duty for 21 months.
He is the eighth member out of the 12 to start his military service, which is required for all-abled bodied South Korean men to deter threat from rival North Korea.
"(Donghae) entered the Army without an official farewell to his fans as per his wish," the agency said.
On Wednesday, Donghae left a message on his social media account saying goodbye to Super Junior's fan club ELF.
"I'm sorry to leave you for a year and nine months," he wrote. "I think it's meaningful that I'm entering on my birthday. See you again with Eunhyuk."
Eunhyuk, another member of the group, started his duty two days earlier at a separate camp in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.
Donghae had been absent from the public eye since releasing "Devil," an album marking the group's 10th anniversary, in July. He and Eunhyuk had also previously teamed up as Super Junior D&E. (Yonhap)