Lee Gyu-lee is a business writer at The Korea Times, focusing primarily on IT & telecommunications, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA. Prior to this, she has covered a wide range of cultural news, from film, television and K-pop to lifestyle and fashion.
Singer Roy Kim starts military service
Roy Kim became known through Mnet's hit audition show “Superstar K4” in 2012. Courtesy of Stone Music Entertainment
By Lee Gyu-lee
By Lee Gyu-lee
K-pop singer Kim Sang-woo, better known as Roy Kim, begins his mandatory military service as a marine, today.
He will start boot camp training for the Marine Corps at a training center in Pohang, North Gyeongsang. After seven weeks of training, he will be stationed.
Kim's agency Stone Music Entertainment announced in May that the singer had applied to enlist in the Marines in his own will.
Kim enters the training camp for the Marine Corps in Pohang, North Gyeongsang, Monday. Yonhap
The singer became known through Mnet's hit audition show “Superstar K4” in 2012. Making his official debut the following year, he has been active on the K-pop scene, releasing hits like “Love Love Love” and taking part in soundtracks for TV series.
However, his career took a downturn last year, when he underwent a police probe for allegedly sharing obscene pictures taken without the person's consent.
The agency later revealed that his case had been suspended and explained, “Roy Kim gravely regrets his actions.”
The singer released his latest single “Linger on” last month, before taking time out to serve the military. The song was his first released since the probe.